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HISTORY 



CHENANGO COUNTY, 



CONTAINING THE 



DfflSIONS OF THE COUNTY AND SKETCHES OF THE TOMS; 

INDIAN TRIBES AND TITLES ; 

(§m, Cliiitim'H p'nrrljnat nf tlje Cuitnti) Cninnaljijis, 



EARLY INHABITANTS AND SETTLEMENTS; 
also: 

LAND PATENTS; RISE AND PROGRESS OF AGRICULTURE, MANUFAC- 
TURES AND TRADE; ANNALS OF THE CHENANGO CANAL; 
CHURCH HISTORY; EMINENT MEN AND STATESMEI^, 
PROFESSIONS, ETC. ETC. 



BY HIRAM C. CLARK. 




NORWICH, N. Y.: 
PUBLISHED BY THOMPSON & PRATT. 



1850. 



?RIN TED AT THE DEMOCRAT OFFICffi, 
NORWICH, NE'^yORK. 



HISTORY 

OF 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



INTRODUCTORY. 

At various times, and at stated in- 
'Jervals, the annais of this county have 
fceen given to the public by numerous 
Jiistorians in their accounts of the State ; 
but, so far as the writer has been able' 
to inform himself, nothing has appeared 
111 print that is not of too general a 
character for the precise information 
sought by the particular reader. For 
instance, book-makers tell us that Nor- 
•vich is a pleasant, salubrious, and 
.hriving village, situated upon a plain, 
near the junction of two streams. That 
It has so many churches, and school- 
houses, so much population, so many 
hotels, so much machinerv, a court- 
house, and, indeed, they give full par- 
ticulars of pre:isely what every inhab- 
itant already knows, but nothmg more. 
This kind of intelligence is satisTactory 
as a guide book to a traveler, but of 
no consequence to a resident. 

There are many incidents connected 
With the early settlement of the county 
resting in the recollection of aged 
people. If these are not soon reco^rd- 
ed they will be lost. Many valuable 
sources of information arc already cut 
off by the death of individuals. " It is 
beliRveu thit but three of the original 
settlers of this village are yet alive, and 
these three are far advanced in life. 

It rnust be apparent that in writincr a 
sketch of this nature from personal ob- 
servation, from details and inciJents 
collected promiscuously, as opportunity 
presents, a lucidus ordo (or arrange- 



ment) cannot be strictly regarded. It is 
proposed to introduce so much extrane- 
ous matter, boih National and State, 
as will serve to illustrate our county's 
rise and progress. It will be necessary 
also to consider Indian affairs with 
some minuteness. l[ we have time 
we contemplate giving some Geological 
information applicable to the county. 

THE COUNTY-ITS ORGANIZATION 
AND CIVIL DIVISIONS. 
The State of New York, ori^rinally 
adependeney, wholly subordinate to 
Great Britain, was erected into a sover- 
eignty as early as the year 1777. The 
proposition for the formation of the Col- 
ony of New York into a sovereign, in- 
dependent State, bearing its colonial 
designation, was first submitted to the 
people residing within its borders, by 
a convention, or Congress, as it was 
tben denominated, already called and 
assembled by authority of the people, 
as colonists, for the purpose of framing 
a conditional or provisional governmen't 
to continue only until the misunder- 
standings with the mother country (then 
understood to be temporary) could be 
compromised by peaceful arrangement, 
mutually satisfactory to the belligerent 
parties. But, as time elapsed, the pro- 
visioual government had the sagacity 
to discover the prospects of peace ev- 
ery day diminisncd. Already ihe com- 
plete atlainment of independence for 
the thirteen revolted colonies agitated 
political society in every quarter. Ac- 



HISTORY OF 



cordingly, on the ihirty-first day of 
May 1776, some two months before the 
final action on the declaration of inde- 
pendence, this convention recommended 
to the people of this colony, to choose 
delegates to a convention duly empow- 
ered to construct a constitution for the 
Colony, and to make it an independent 
State, renouncing all allegiance to the 
King of Great Britain. As soon as the 
passage of the declaration of independ- 
ence at Philadelphia was communica- 
ted to the world, the purposes of ihe 
Colonists were greatly strengthened. — 
In place of calling a new Convention, 
the people gave the Convention recom- 
mending the call ample powers to act 
in the premises. In pursuance of the 
new authority conferred and moreover 
inspirited by the action of the general 
Congress, the convention in April 1777, 
enacted the first Constitution of the 
State of New York. At this time the 
State was comprised of but fourteen 
counties, namely: New York, Albany, 
Duchess, Westchester, Ulster, Suflblk, 
Queens, Orange, Kings, Richmond, 
Tryon, Charlotte, Cumberland, and 
Gloucester. The two last named coun- 
ties were at a subsequent period ceded 
to Vermont. This Constitution of 1777, 
with occasional emendations, vindicated 
its wisdom, inasmuch as the people 
lived and flourished under it for the 
space of forty years, and that too when 
the country was in its chrysalis state. 
Under its benign influence this State 
attained to an unprecedented degree, 
prosperity, and even wealth and gran- 
deur. At this day old men are proud 
to recount the rise and progress of her 
agriculture, commerce, and the ad- 
vancement of the arts and sciences, 
during this long period of universal 
prosperity. They are doubly proud to 
rehearse the labors of her orators, her 
statesmen and her judges, many of 
whom have left world wide reputations 
achieved at thi? auspicious era. But 
as time advanced the wants of society 
called into existence the Constitution of 
1821, which in its turn gave place to 
that of 1846. Under these three in- 



struments, yielding to each other with 
occasional amendments of the first two, 
our State has had a political life of 
over seventy years — a period coeval 
with the general government. Our 
political fathers are now dead, but they 
have erected a monument to their wis- 
dom, more durable than brass, to stand 
in lasting attestation of their sacrifices 
and their patriotism. 

Chenango County derives its name 
from the river which flows through its 
territory ; and the river is indebted for 
its beautiful designation to the Indians 
who once wandered along its borders, 
and in whom was vested the original 
possessory title to the soil in this region. 
The County was established in 1798, 
over soil taken from Herkimer, and 
Tioga counties. Up to lb06 it included 
also Madison county. The county is 
rather more than half a century in 
years. It is thirty-five miles long, and 
28 wide. Herkimer and Tioga coun- 
ties were taken from Montgomery coun- 
ty in 1791. Montgomery county origi- 
nally comprised what, during the Rev- 
olution, was known as Tryon county ; 
the name was changed from Trj^on to 
Montgomery in 1784. Chenango coun- 
ty, therefore, traces back her lineage 
through Herkimer and Tioga to Mont- 
gomery, the original Tryon county, so 
famous in revolutionary hibtory. 

The Towns into which Chenango 
is subdivided are twenty in number, 
and were erected at various periods. 

Bainhridge, the oldest town in the 
county, was organized from Tioga coun- 
ty in 1791, under the name of Jericho : 
name changed to Bainbridge in 1814. 

Columbus was taken from the town 
of Camden in 1805. 

Coventry was taken from Greene in 
1806. 

Guilford was taken from Oxford, un- 
der the name of Eastern, in 1813. The 
name of Eastern was changed to Guil- 
ford in 1817. 

German was taken from the town of 
De Ruyter in 1800. 




i: n G E THE THIRD. 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



Greene was taken from the towns of 
Union and Jericho in 1798. 

Lincklacn was taken from German in 
1823. 

McDoiMugh was taken from Preston 
m 1816. 

New Berlin was taken from Norwich 
in 1807. In 1821 the name was chang- 
ed to Lancaster ; but changed back to 
New Berlin in 1822. 

Otselic was taken from German in 
1817. 

Oxford organized as a part of Tioga 
county in 1793; taken from the towns 
of Union and Jericho. 

Pharsalia, organized under the name 
of Stonmgton, was taken, from Norwich 
in 1806 ; the name changed to Phar- 
salia in 1808. 

Pitcher was taken from German and 
Lincklaen in 1827. 

Ply?nonth was taken from Norwich in 
1806. 

Preston was taken from Norwich in 
1806. 

Sherburne was organized' in 1801, 
and comprised the eighth and ninth 
townships. 

Smithviile was taken from Greene in 
1808. 

Smyrna was taken from Sherburne 
in 1808 ; organized by the name of 
Stafford — name changed to Smyrna the 
same year. 

Norwich was organized in 1793, as a 
part of Tioga county. 

North Norw.ich was taken from Nor- 
wich in 1849. 

By referring to the above list it will 
be seen that Norwich (pronounced Nor- 
idj, the IV is silent,) once included the 
towns of New Berlin, McDonough, 
Preston, Pharsalia, Plymouth, and 
North Norwich ; making an extent of 
territory about six times larger than 
her present limits. The town meetings 
were appointed for this village, and as 
the roads at an early period were in 
such primitive condition as not to admit 
of the distant citizen's attending these 



meetings and returning home the same 
day ; and, when, moreover, we call to 
mind that on gala days the town was 
visited by from one to three hundred 
Indians ; and, especially too, when we 
remember that temperance societies are 
of modern invention ; let not the read- 
er be surprised if we say to him that 
fun used at such times to run so high, 
so fast and furious, as to create serious 
apprehension among the sober-minded 
people of this burgh for their personal 
safety. But notwithstanding these oc- 
casional excesses, there was among the 
early settlers of this county, a manly 
frankness a winning hospitality, per- 
fectly cordial and sincere whenever ex- 
tended to a neighbor or stranger. We 
must ever reverence the homely hon- 
esty of the pioneers of the county.— 
We cannot too much admire their un- 
flinching perseverance while undergo- 
ing privations, frightful to think of, in 
successful efforts to subdue a cold and 
stubborn soil ! a soil which we. their 
descendants, repose upon in perfect 
ease. Strangers to every want (except 
such as ourselves create,) we are ac- 
commodated Avith roads and canals, 
schools, churches and markets, where 
industry realizes her rightful gains. — 
Theirs was the toil, ours is the reward. 

INDIAN HISTORY AND TITLES. 
Over sixty years have elapsed since 
the Caucassiau or white race came to 

clear up the forests of Chenango. 

When they arrived here they foun'd an- 
other people in possession of the soil, 
vv-ho held divided empire with the pan- 
ther, the beur, and the wolf; ail of 
whom had a very early occupancy ; one 
long prior to the landing of the pil- 
grims upon Plymouth Rock. The in- 
habitants v/ho first peopled this valley, 
so far as we know, were of the Oneida 
tribe of savages, interspersed perhaps 
v/ith a scattered iew of the Tuscarora 
Indians. There are some traces, how- 
ever, of a very early class of native in- 
habitants in this region which may 
have been dispossessed by the Oneidas, 
or some other tribe, centuries ago. 



HISTORY OF 



In the year 1817, Dewitt Clinton ad- 
dressed to Doct. Samuel L.Mitchell, of 
New York, a paper upon the antiquities 
of this tita'.e, iVom Avliich we extract 
the following, relative to this county : 

" In Oxfori there is a fort, on the 
east side of the Chenango river, in the 
centre of the present village, whicli is 
on both sides of the river. There is a 
piece of land containing between two 
and three acres, which is about thirty 
feet higher than the adjoining flat land 
nround it. This rise of land lies along 
the river bank about fifty rods, and at 
the south-westerly end this fort was 
situated. It contained about three 
roods of ground, and on the river the 
line was nearly straight and the bank 
alnioit perpendicular. The figure was 
nc-arly like this, 




At the places north and south, marked 
for gates, there were two spaces of 
Ubou: ten feet each where tho ground 
has not been broken, which were, un- 
doubtedly, the entrances or gateways 
by which the people of the lort went 
out and in, and particularly for water. 
The curve, except the gateways, was a 
ditch regularly dug; and although the 
ground on which ilie fort is situated, 
was, at the lirst white settlement, as 
heavily timbered as any other part of 
the forest, yet the lines of the work 
could be distinctly traced among the 
trees, and the distance from the bottom 
of the ditch to the top of the embank- 
ment, generally, about four feet. The 
antiquity of this fortification is more 
particularly evident from the following 
iact : There was one large pine tree, 
or rather dead trunk, fifty or sixty foet 
high, which being cut, one hundred 
and ninety-five concentric circles of 



the wood could be easily distinguished 
and many more could not be counted, as 
the sap wood of the tree was principally 
gone. Probably this tree was three or 
four iiundred years old ; certainly more 
than two hundred. It might have 
stood one hundred years after it had 
completed its growth, and even longer. 
It is also uncertain how long a time 
elapsed from the excavation of the 
ditch to the commencement of the 
growth of this tree. That it was not 
there when the earth was thrown up, is 
certain ; for It stood on the lop of tho 
bank, and its roots had shaped them- 
selves to the ditch, rumiing quite under 
the bottom of it, then rising on the oth- 
er side near the surface of the earth, 
and then pursuing a horizontal direc- 
tion. Probably this work was picketed 
in, but no remains of any wood-work 
has been discovered. The situation 
was very eligible, being healthy, com- 
manding a beautiful prospect up and 
doivn the river, and there being no 
highland within such a distsnce that 
the garrison could be annoyed. No 
vestiges of any implements or utensils 
have been found, except some pieces 
of coarse pottery resembling stoneware 
and roughly ornamented. The Indians 
have a tradition tiiat the family of the 
Antones, which is supposed to belong 
to the Tuscarora nation, are tiie seventh 
generation f.om the inhabitants of this 
fort : but of iis origin they know noth- 
ing. There is abo a place at Norwich, 
in the same county, on a high bank of 
the river, called the Casile, where the 
Indians lived at the period of our set- 
tling the country, and some vestiges of 
a fortification appear there, but it is, in 
all probability, of a much more mod- 
ern date than the one at Oxford.' 

In tracing back the history of the 
Oneida nation of Indians, they will be 
found to have constituted an important 
branch of the celebrated Five Nations, 
originally ; and subsequently of the 
Six Nations. As early as 1647, the 
Five Nations, composed of the Mo- 
hawk, Onondaga, Seneca, Cayuga, 
and Oneida tribes, are found to be in 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



joint alliance with the English Colo- 
nist:j. Of these clans the Moliawks 
were first in rank, and the Scnccas first 
in numbers. By the terms of this al- 
liance they placed their countries under 
the protcciion of the Enj^lish nation, 
surrendering up sovereignty, but re- 
taining the title in themselves. Hence 
more ihan a century after the time of 
this alliance. Governor Tryon writes to 
the home government that England 
owned the Colony of New York "by 
virtue of grants, and the treaties and 
deeds of cession by the Five and Six 
Nations." 

The Five and Six Nations were al- 
ways in amity with the English, ex- 
cepting occasional estrangements, and 
the English policy was to encourage 
their rapacious spirit for conquest as 
all their acquisitions in war came nat- 
urally into English hands, first by trea- 
ties, then by purchase, followed by sol- 
emn deeds of cession, technically word- 
ed, and about the tenor of which the 
wild savages cosld ha.ve understood not 

As early as sixteen hundred and 
eighty-seven the Five Nations enjoyed 
a high war renown, for Governor Don- 
gan writes to England, that "they are 
the most warlike people in America, 
and are a bulwark between us and the 
French, and all other Indians ; they go 
as far as the south sea, the north-west 
passage, and Florida to war. They 
are so considerable that all the Indians 
in these parts of America are tributary 
to them." 

About the year 1714 the Oneida In- 
dians, while on a predatory excursion 
into the Carolinas formed an alliance 
with the Tuscaroras, who were natives 
of the South, and brought them into,or 
adjoining their country, lying in this 
State near Lake Oneida. This tribe 
built one village about six miles from 
the Oneidas, and another on the Sus- 
quehannah river. They were taken 
into the political alliance of the Five 
Nations, and after this time the confed- 
erates were styled the Six Nations.— 



This County is situated on the route 
between their two villages; it is not 
therefore impossible but tljat they were 
as numerous here &.t an early day as 
the Oneidas. Perhaps more so. 

The Mohawks were proprietors up 
the Mohawk valley, and their lands, as 
well as those of the other tribes, seem 
to have extended north and south, in- 
definitely. The Oneidas were the next 
nation west, and held head quarters 
near Rome, in Oneida county. 

In the year 1768 the Six Nations 
conveyed to the English by a deed of 
bargain and sale, all of their lands east 
and south of a line commencing a few 
leagues Avest of Fort Stanwix, now 
Rome, and running in a south-west di- 
rection to the junction of the Ohio and 
Mississippi rivers. This line is east of 
Owego and was very near this county, 
if it did not run through it. As this 
county then had no particular known 
monuments by which the line past us 
could be designated, it is just now diffi- 
cult to say whether all or any portion of 
it was in the cession. By this cession 
the English obtained a country stretch- 
ing over a thousand miles. They paid 
for this mammoth cession something 
less than sixty thousand dollars. 

While giving the history of the 
primitive owners of the county, it is 
proper to show their nutnbcr and con- 
dition. At a very early day the poor 
Indian was regarded not in his social 
relation, but only so far as he was 
dangerous to the ambition of the white 
man, who was unceasingly abstracting 
his country from him for the purposes 
of private gain. Accordingly the ear- 
ly Governors of the province of New 
York sent to England accounts of the 
war capacity of the various tribes, omit- 
ting all mention of the women and 
children and youths, incapable of bear- 
ing arms. la the year 1677 the Onei- 
da tribe numbered Iv/o hundred warriors; 
and in 1786 the Tuscarora tribe were 
estimated at two hundred and fifty 
fighting men. The two tribes amount 
ing to only four hundred and fifty com- 
batants. In the year 1774, (one year 



e 



HISTORY OF 



before the Revolution,) Gov. Tryon 
represented that the Six Nations were 
two thousand strong, and expert in tlie 
arts of war. In the last mentioned 
year the Oneida tribe numbered of men 
women, and children, about fifteen 
hundred souls. At this time the Sen- 
eca Indians had one thousand warriors. 
The Five Nations of Indians ever 
suffered heavy losses while waging 
•wars to conlirm the white settlements in 
this country. One Governor represents 
that in 16S9 the Five Nations went in- 
to war with twenty-five hundred and 
fifty men ; ten years afterwards this 
body was so wasted by fighting as to 
number only twelve hundred and thirty 
men. This fact confirms the high rep- 
utation of the Five Nations for valor. 

The British Governor iu the year 
1774 reported that (the noted) "Sir 
William Johnson, Superintendent of 
Indian affairs, had under his charge 
and direction twenty-five thousand four 
hundred and twenty fighting Indians !" 
certainly a formidable force when after- 
wards it was attempted to array it 
against the colonies in the revolution. 
As every history of the Revolution 
contains so much information respecting 
the conduct of the red men towards 
tha colonies during the struggle for in- 
dependence, it cannot be necessary in a 
sketch of this kind, to consume space 
by recapitulation. 

It is impossible to read of the enor- 
mous strength of the Indian tribes of 
North America (when coupled with the 
assistance of a wilderness inaccessible 
to white men, and to which the Indians 
could retreat in case of disaster,) with- 
out coming to the conclusion that the 
white people, in adopting the Machia- 
Telian policy, divide et impera, (divide 
and govern) adopted the only means by 
which this country could possibly have 
been settled. By keeping the Indians 
eternally at war and scalping each other 
the white race saved their own scalps, 
and prevented every chance of their 
forming alliances against themselves. 

When the whites arrived at Norwich 
between the years 1780 and 1790 



the Indians held a fort, called the Cas- 
tle, which was near the present resi- 
dence of Homer Johnson, and about 
one and a half miles below this village 
on the east bank of the river. Here 
tliey held Councils, and appointed 
courts for the trial of delinquents. — 
Here, too, they received their Chief, 
and here too they entertained their 
guests from the neighboring tribes. 

In the neighborhood of the Castle, 
upon the flats and highlands, they con- 
structed wigwams; they had also cleared 
off large patches of land for cornfields 
when the first settlers appeared among 
them. 

ACCOUNT OF THE ONEIDAS. 

Assuming that we have already indi- 
cated with requisite precision the" tribes 
of natives who inhabited Chenango Coun- 
ty, prior to the advent of the early pio- 
neers, and that they were a fractional sec- 
tion of the six nations, more generally 
designated the Iroquois Indians, (the term 
Iroquois being of French extraction) it is 
proper in this connection to place before 
the reader some account of these tribes. 

And first, of the Oneida Canton of the 
Iroquois nation ! According to an able 
and minute narrative given by Mr. 
Schoolcraft, in his truly valuable " sketch- 
es of the Iroquois," the Oneida clan were ' 
originally a separate independent horde, 
and sprung, as Indian tradition instructs 
us, from two red men of the Onondaga's 
who strayed at an early epoch from their 
tribe into the vicinity of Lake Oneida, 
in the present County of Oneida. These 
men, thus isolated from the tribe to which 
they belonged, laid the foundation for a 
new tribe, which, in time, was destined 
to grow into importance and become sub- 
sequently the allies or friends of what 
was then known as the four nations, com- 
prised of the Mohawks, Onondagas, 
Senecas and Cayugas. That about the 
year 1539 this new tribe, descended from 
the Onondaga wanderers, were so nu- 
merous as to be formally incorporated, as 
an independent tribe, into the then four 
nations, themselves constituting the fifth. 
This tradition concernincr the origin of 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



the Oneidas from the Onondagas, is fur- 
ther confirmed by the circumstance that 
both languages are of so homogeneous a 
nature as to possess in many respects, a 
common identity. Another circumstance 
would indicate a common origin ! When- 
ever these tribes were pledged to adverse 
alliances during the wars which England 
carried on in this country, they ever ab- 
stained from hostile demonstrations a- 
gainst each other. Indeed it was not un- 
usual, when their chiefs had arrayed 
them in hostile attitude, by their engage- 
ment in the wars carried on by Europe- 
ans, for them at such times to visit each 
other and to adopt means to bring about 
a reconciliation to the one cause. 

During the revolutionary war the O- 
neidas, as colonial allies, made an er- 
rand of peace to the Onondagas, then 
embarked in the British interest, and 
employed many expedients to reconcile 
the hostile tribe to the cause of Indepen- 
dence. It is proper to remark, that 
through all the vicisitudes and various 
fortunes which the colonies underwent 
during that long and discouraging strug^ 
gle, the Oneida Tribe adhered, firmly and 
unflinchingly, to their alliance with us. 
Other nations joined us but wavered m 
their support; they continued constant to 
the end! What might have been the 
cause of their friendship; whether the 
kindness of the settlers about them; 
whether their sympathies were touched 
at the sight of small bodies of resolute 
men, bravely resisting the armed pov/er 
of England; or whatever else may have 
prevailed to determine their aid to the 
popular cause, that aid was never for a 
moment withdrawn ! 

As a nation, before the degenerating 
and blighting influencesof civilization had 
degraded them from their high estate, 
they were distinguished for bravery and. 
true Indian magnanimity. These wild 
men of the woods had hearts, and hearts 
loo that sympathized with distress! Let 
us examine for a moment, their conduct 
towards the Tuscarora tribe ! The Onei- 
das had made frequent hunting excur- 
sions into the Colony of North Carolina. 
They had been the guests of the Tusca- 
2 



roras in the days of their pride. But 
when in after years they made a visit to 
the cantonment of this tribe, they found 
them diminished in numbers, and a con- 
quered people. Their best warriors were 
taken from them. With true native hos- 
pitality, they invited the remnant of this 
brave tribe to accompany them to their 
northern home and partake v>-ith them of 
the comforts of the Oneida hunting 
grounds. As guests they came; but the 
Oneidas gave them possessions, and fi- 
nally assisted to incorporate them into the 
Confederacy as an integral part of the Iro- 
quois, or six nations. After this incorpo- 
ration we find the sign manual of the 
Tuscaroras affixed to treaties, and to 
deeds of cession by the six nations. They 
were in their new home, treated as a dis- 
tinct people, retaining, as much as the 
five tribes, all the characteristics of _ a 
separate nationality. The Oneidas in- 
sisted that the Tuscaroras, by their valor 
in vfar, had demonstrated that them- 
selves had been a northern tribe original- 
ly, and that they afterwards fixed their 
nation in Carolina. 

The labors of the Oneidas to sustain 
the independence of the Colonies, but 
hastened the time of their own downfall. 
The achievement of freedom gave a stim- 
ulus to immigration hither, which, the 
Indians experienced and ineffectually re- 
monstrated against. Purchases of Indi- 
an lands were from time to time made by 
the State, until at length the Indian hunt- 
ing grounds came to be most annoyingly 
circumscribed. This annoyance became 
insupportable in later years; accordingly 
in 1820, the tribe purchased of the Mo- 
nomonees (inhabiting Wisconsin,) a tract 
of country adjacent to Green Bay, where 
at this day they have a flourishing settle- 
ment on Uuck'River. To this locality 
the majority of the tribe removed, and 
here they live in a state of semi-civili- 
zation. "In the year 1844, the western 
portion of the tribe numbered 722 souls. 
The former wide domain of these In- 
dians in this state has dwindled down to 
a narrow belt of land, held by individual 
rights, and contains a populntion not ex- 
ceeding 200 persons. 



10 



HISTORY OF 



These subsist by tillage, and they imi- 
tate, so far as their indian nature will ad- 
mit, the manners, dress, and customs of 
their white brethren. Thus much of the 
Oneidas! 

THE TUSCARORAS. 

As this tribe are supposed, upon very 
good authority, to have once inhabited 
this county, holding their possessions in 
joint tenancy with their friends the Onei- 
das, and as they probably gave name to 
the rivers and creeks flowing through its 
territory and indirectly to the county it- 
self, it is proper to give some account of 
these savages in conjunction with the 
Oneida annals. 

As has been already stated, this tribe is 
thought to have originated among the four 
or five nations. Tiiey are said to have 
inhabited near the falls of Oswego, in 
this State, from whence they wandered 
south Avcst to the Rlississippi Kiver near 
to its junction with the Oliio, and stroll- 
ing across the country into the colony of 
North Carolina, finally fixed their abode 
in that distant region. Mr. Schoolcraft 
thinks their's was the first settlement of 
stability south of the Powhatanic tribe 
living in Virginia. Like the Iroquois of 
the North, they affected territory and to 
obtain it subjected neighboring tribes. 
It has been surmised they were chiefly 
instrumental in the overthrow of the 
first southern settlement founded by the 
enterprising but unfortunate Sir Walter 
Raleigh. Aware of their prowess, and 
encouraged by a uniform series of suc- 
cessful forays against and conquest over 
adjoining clans of savages, the Tus- 
caroras, in conjunction with the Coree 
Indians, commenced a war against the 
European Colonists of North Carolina, 
having for its object their overthrow and 
final extirpation from the country. The 
plan of hostilities was so secretly con- 
cocted, so thoroughly perfected, and in- 
deed, so little suspected, by the colo- 
nists, that the first intimation they had 
of it was on the 22d of September 1711, 
when the allied Indians broke from their 
fiistnesscs, and with tomahawk and scalp- 



ing knife in hand, poured themselves with 
irresistible numbers upon the devoted 
settlers. They made frightful havoc, de- 
stroying indiscriminately, men, women 
and children. The white people at 
length rallied, and, under the guidance 
of Col. Barnwell, of South Carolina, re- 
turned the fire brand of war into the In- 
dian country. Penetrating the indian 
hiding places, they gave battle and 
killed thirty Tuscaroras. The Indians 
rallied anew and continued the war for 
several years. The combatants in this 
war were so nearly balanced as to pre- 
vent victory declaring for either side. 
At length the aid of the Virginia colo- 
nists was invoked to put an end to the 
struggle. To counterbalance this new 
force, soon to be brought into the field 
against them, the vigilant Tuscaroras dis- 
patched runners to the Seneca Indians, 
then living in this State, for aid. While 
waiting for the arrival of the Northern 
Indians, they were compelled, by the ce- 
lerity of the whiles in pushing hostili- 
ties afresh and with additional force, to 
retreat and entrench themselves in a 
camp on Taw River, which they called 
fort Naruke, and here they awaited the 
approach of their enemies. The whites 
began the siege by making regular ap- 
proaches to the fort. The besieged had 
not provided for the requisite supply of 
water, and Col. Barnwell, aware of this 
error, so ranged his artillery that it swept 
the indian water places as well as every 
point of exit and entrance to the fortifica- 
tion. By this means the besieged were 
compelled at disadvantage, to fight a 
pitched battle in which the whites, assis- 
ted by cannon, gained a triumphant vic- 
tory. ' The battle was fought and gained 
on'the26th day of March, ^1713. In this 
encounter, eight hundred of the bravest 
Tuscarora warriors were taken captives 
and sold into slavery. Their power was 
now broken and the tribe scattered ; this 
broken clan came North with the Onei- 
das the next year, 1714. On their arri- 
val, they were also befriended by thf' 
Senecas. According to historians the 
Tuscaroras of North Carolina in 170S, 
numbered of fighting men, twelve hun- 



^Ui^rlG^ 

CHENANGO COUNTY. 



11 



dred. They, by estimation, numbered 
in this year about six thousand souls. 
Two-thirds of their braves were lost at 
the fatal battle of Naruke in 1713. 

During the revolutionary war only a 
portion of this tribe espoused the Coloni- 
al Cause. After the war the Senecas 
gave them a ridge of land in Niagara 
County, in proximity to the falls. In 
addition to this, they purchased of the 
Holland Land Company, a tract adja- 
cent to the gift of the Senecas. In 1813 
the British burned their village. Sub- 
sequently a reservation was provided 
for them west of the Mississippi, whith- 
er a portion emigrated but becoming dis- 
pleased with their new heme, returned 
to their present habitations. Their hun- 
tmg grounds are too circumscribed to 
subsist them, and they, like the Oncidas, 
have adopted the arts of civilized life. 
They assimilate to our habits and cus- 
toms, and work the soil with considera- 
ble skill as will be seen by the accom- 
panying statistics of their tribe. 

In 1847, according to Mr. Schoolcraft, 
they numbered 253 persons living in 53 
families, of whom 151 were males and 
167 were females. In this year they 
cultivated 2080 acres of land ; raised 
4867 bushels of wheat ; 3515 bushels of 
corn; 4085 bushels of oats; 1166 bush- 
els of potatoes, besides beans, buck- 
wheat and turnips. They possessed in 
this latter year 339 head of neat cattle ; 
96 milch cows ; made 7537 pounds of 
butter ; owned 153 horses; 215 sheep, 
and 596 hogs. 

The writer has lived some years near 
this tribe and has a personal acquaint- 
ance with many of its members. He 
has frequently conversed with James 
Cusick, a brother of David Cusick, the 
Indian archeologist. In 1827 David Cu- 
sick published the traditions of his tribe, 
professing to go back to an era anterior 
to the Christian. To gratify the curi- 
I osity of the reader, we publish an ab- 
stract of these ; at the same time not pre- 
tending to pass any opinion upon dates 
so ancient, and resting only in human 
memory. 

" Anterior to any date, the Eagwehoe- 



we, (pronounced Yaguyhohiiy) meaning 
real people, dwelt north of the lakes, and 
formed only one nation. After many 
years, a body of them settled on the Ka- 
nawag, now the St Lawrence, and after 
a long time a foreign people came by sea, 
and settled south of the lake. 

Towards 2500 winters before Colum- 
bus' discovery of America, or 1008 years 
before our era, total overthrow of the To- 
wancas, nations of giants came from the 
north, by the king of the Onguys, (Iro- 
quois,) Donhtonha, and the hero Yatatan, 

Three hundred winters after, or 708 
before our era, the northern nations form 
a confederacy, appoint a king, who goes 
to visit the great emperor of the Golden 
city, south of the lakes : but afterwards 
quarrels arise, and a war of 100 years 
with this empire of the south, long civil 
wars in the north, &c. A body of peo- 
ple escaped in the mountain of Oswego. 

1500 years before Columbus, or in the 
8 of our era, Tarenyawagon, the first le- 
gislator, leads his people out of the moun- 
tains to the river Yenonatateh, (now Mo- 
hawk,) Vv'here six tribes form an alliance 
called the Long-house, Agoneaseah — af- 
terwards reduced to five, the sixth spread- 
ing west and south. The Kautanoh, 
since Tuscarora, came from this. Some 
went as far as the Onauweyoda, now 
Mississippi. 

In 242, Shakanahih, or Stone Giants, 
a branch of the western tribe, become 
cannibals, return and desolate the coun- 
try ; but they are overthrown and driven 
north, by Tarenyawagon II. 

In 492, Atotarho I., king of the Onon- 
dagas, quells civil wars, begins a dynas- 
ty ruling over all the Five Nations, till 
Atotarho IX., who ruled yet in 1142, 
Events are since referred to their reigns. 

Under Atotarho III., a tyrant, Sohnan- 
rohwah, arises on the Kaunaseh, now 
Susquehannah river, which makes war 
on the Sahwanug. 

In 602, under Atotarho IV., the To- 
wancas, now Mississaugers, cede to the 
Senecas the lands east of the river Ni- 
agara, who settle on it. 

Towards 852, under Atotarho VI., the 



12 



HISTORY OF 



Senecas reach the Oliio river, compel 
the Otowahs to sue for peace. 

Towards 101:2, under Atotarho VIII., 
w-ar with the Towanoas, and a foreign 
stranger visits tlio Tuscaroras of Neuse 
river, who ore divided into three tribes, 
and at war with tlie Nanticokes and To- 
talis. 

In 1143, under Atotarho IX., first civ- 
il war between the Erians of Lake Erie, 
sprung from the Senecas, and the Five 
Nations." Here end these traditions. 

The native occupants of this region 
had favorite haunts where they construc- 
ted hamlets and passed short vacations 
in the hunting season in accordance with 
their accustomed indolence. The per- 
manent, fixed place of savage abode is 
usually, near the dwelling of the chief 
of the canton. Like mr.n in thecivilized 
slate, the Indian is fond of society and re- 
sorts to his village to enjoy social inter- 
course, take part in the gaiety of metro- 
politan life as well as to confer with his 
brethren upon matters aflecting the pub- 
lic interest. 

During the intervals of game taking 
the Indian is inert and listless, and com- 
pels the submissive squaw to perform all I 
the menial duties of the household, and 
also to attend to the rougher labors of 
the field. Like the ox, the squaw is the 
impassive instrument to work out the 
means of subsistence for her lord, which 
office she performs, without a murmur of 
impatience. The life of the Indian hunter, 
and they are all hunters both by education 
and by nature, is of a variegated charac- 
ter, and is generally passed in ex- 
cessive fatiguing wanderings through 
pathless forests, abstaining for days to- 
gether from food and needful rest. Then 
follows that corresponding re-action, bor- 
dering upon downright imbecility, which 
ever happens when the human constitu- 
tion is overtasked, cither mentally or 
physically. 

The violent exertion the Indian 
makes when on excursions of duty may 
be illustrated by the treatment of prison- 
ers taken and held for a time in captivi- 
ty. When liberated or restored to friends, 



their greatest complaint has ever been 
the killing marches they underwent in 
common with their captors. The Indi- 
an by nature possesses, and by ear- 
ly culture is taught, a stoicism that 
makes him disdain to murmur or repine 
at whatever hardships he is called upon 
to endure. Noon, night, or midnight, 
when once he shakes off his lethargy 
and arouses himself into action, are all 
seasonable hours to him. At any hour 
of the twenty four he is equally prepar- 
ed to march, to hunt, to fight or to re- 
treat as circumstances seem best to dic- 
tate. 

We have before adverted to the fact 
that the tribes inhabiting this valley 
were accustomed to go as far as Florida 
and the south sea to war. In marching 
to these far distant countries in pursuit of 
their enemies they traversed dense forests 
through roads impassable to Avhite men 
and followed obscure trails over moun- 
tains, crossing rivers and threading a 
labyrinth of morasses in what seems to 
us an incredible short space of time. — 
Their journeys from fifteen hundred to 
two thousand miles were undertaken 
with all the alacrity of a ramble after 
pleasure. In view of these labors it is 
not surprising their indurated bodies 
should require frequent seasons of rest. 

We are uninstructed as to what dis- 
position they made of their wounded 
warriors in countries so remote as the 
Floridas. It requires four hale men to 
transport every disabled combatant on a 
march. Again in savage warfare no 
prisoners are taken as a general thing, al- 
though frequent instances occur where 
the life of the captive has been spared 
him. By men in the savage state, war 
is construed in its literal sense, thai is, 
to destroy as many of the enemy as pos- 
sible, by whatever craft or device. The 
savage who boasts the greatest number 
of scalps, snatched from the (oe, ranks, 
in the esiiination of his Chief, and of 
the maiden, as the greatest conqueror. 
To take the enemy unsuspecting and 
without exposure to the captor is the 
highest indication of good conduct in 
war. The Indian code of honor is ex- 



CHENANGO COUNTY, 



13 



actly the reverse of ihat standard which 
every white rnan is solemnly bound to, 
observe. What we term magnanimity 
towards a cun(|uered or unresisting ene- 1 
my, is deemed low minded and pusillani- 1 
muus in savage life. His system of war- j 
fare is uniform in another respect ; when [ 
the warrior falls, by the fate of battle, 
into hostile hands, he neither asks or 
expects mercy. He regards his captiv- 
ity as the forfeit of his existence, and 
while subjected to tortures that unman 
the white race, he looks grimly upon his 
exulting tormentors, defying them to in- 
flict any cruelly that shall make him 
Ci^mplam. Indian courage is in manyrc- 
spects passive and even womanly, and 
sustains its possessor in circumstances 
apparently insupportable. 

The favorite resort of the natives of 
this region were the Indian fields, now 
known as the Randall farm, lying about 
one mile below the creek Bridge in 
Norwich, and a short distance South of 
the confluence of the Canasewacla 
Creek and the Chenango River. The 
plain upon which Norwich is situated, 
was flat, dry and spacious, and inter- 
spersed with springs of pure water, and 
hence, this spot was also a very grate- 
ful retreat to the savage at an early day. 
In the Indian parlance, Norwich village 
was then denominated the " Canashe- 
wacta country." Between the Chenan- 
go and Tiauadcrha (now Unadilla) rivers 
a constant communication was kept up 
and abundance of encampments were 
pitched upon either stream. The red 
race cleared off the forests partially up- 
on the Randall farm, and also cut out 
clearings bordering the Unadilla River. 
Oxford was another favorite resting 
place; there was yet another, some 
miles south of Oxford. The site of the 
famous Indian fort in Oxford is now cov- 
ered by the dwelling house of Ira 
Wilcox a resident of that village. 

There is a tradition concerning a 
powerful chief who once possessed him- 
self of the fort in Oxford, and for ma- 
ny successive. years kept the Oneida In- 
dians at bay. It seems incredible that 
an adveuturer should attempt this en- 



terprise against so well disciplined an 
enemy as the Oneidas were at an ear- 
ly era. Yet it maybe so. The reader 
shall have the statement as we find it. 
It is as follows: 

••The Oneidas leave us this traditior : that 
about a century or more since, a gigantic chief 
occupied It. who destroyed all their hunter* 
who came into this quarter. They called this 
Chief Thick Neck. The Oneidas made sev- 
eral attempts to decoy him IVom his stronghold, 
but without success. They at lengili managed 
to go between him and thelbrt, when he ran 
down the river about six miles and secreted 
himself in the marsli around the pond called 
Warn's Pond. Here he was discoverd and kil- 
led by the Oneidas, who buried hiin and scratch- 
ed the leaves over his grave that no vestige of 
him should remain. The remnant of his tribe 
were adopted by the Oneidas, and an Indian 
wlio was hung at Morrisville many year since3 
named A brain Antone was a descendant from 
Thick Nkck." 

Abrarn Antoine himself deduced his 
origin fr..m the Tuscaroras. In plough- 
ing up the lands in the neighborhood 
of Norwich village flint arrow points 
have been discovered in considtrabie 
numbers during these latter years. The 
points are of triangular shape. They 
vary in length from two to four inches, 
and in the widest part, are from half an 
inch tc two inches, and range in thick- 
ness from an eighth to three-quarters 
of an inch. The largest size must have 
required a long and heavy arrow to pre- 
serve the equipoise during its flight 
from the bow, to the object of attack. 
An immense bow must have been re- 
quired to drive so heavy an arrow with 
sufficient momentum to force the blunt 
point of the flint into the body of the 
victim. Unless indeed, the Indians of 
the olden time possessed some art in 
springing these ponderous bows, they 
surely must have been furnished with 
arms far more sinewy and shoulders 
more brawny than their descendants. 
The arrow head itself is a curiously 
wrought piece of workmanship. The 
flint fsso regularly carved as to show 
in the more finished specimens, a se- 
ries of small, regular indentations, pre- 
senting on the edges a kind of saw or 
teeth which it would be difficult for the 
1 modern artizan to imitate. Hatchets 



14 



HISTORY OF 



carved out of stone, have been discov- 
ered on the banks of the Unadilla riv- 
fr buried among arrow points. 

It has been surmised by some per- 
sons that tlie arrows were shaped and 
tinished by the stone axe. Many con- 
jecture the natives possessed some se- 
cret by which they softened the flint 
while the carving process was going on, 
«nd again hardened it, (as we harden 
and sol"ten steel by the agency of heat,) 
when the operation was performed. 
Within the past year an alligators tooth, 
with the enamel much decayed, was ex- 
humed near the Castle, where it had 
long beeti buried. From the appear- 
ance of the workmanship upon the tooth, 
it seems to have been used as an orna- 
ment by the Indians. This tooth was 
doubtless procured in some of their 
southern incursions. 

Very neat the residence of Mr. Abel 
Chandler in Norwich, there is a large 
mound having many appearances in 
common with the mounds found in Illi- 
nois and Mississippi ; and which are 
known to have been places of deposite 
for the dead. This mo'jnd is situated 
on the alluvial soil of the valley, and is 
detached from the high grounds near 
by. If it had a rock basis it would be 
rational to conclude some stream had 
caused its disruption from the highland 
standing in proximity to it. But it is 
equally steep, or very nearly so, on each 
side and corresponds in length and 
breadth with the tumuli on the Missis- 
sippi, and other western rivers. We 
know of no Indian burying place in 
this region nearer than Oxford. Bones 
have been found when excavating about 
the fort in that village. But at Nor- 
wich where the Indians were in great- 
er numbers, and at an early day, no 
burial place has been discovered, so far 
as the writer can ascertain. The Cas- 
tle had a village around it, as some of 
the first inhabitants report. Forty or 
fifty years ago, the outlines of an indi- 
an huddle or hamlet was plain to be 
seen. 

Mr. Wm. Thomas, who has visit- 
ed tho west and witnessed the exhu- 



ming of bones from the mounds 
feels confident that this mound has 
a deposit of bodies. He forms his 
judgement upon the striking similarity 
between this and the Mississippi 
mounds. Mr. Thomas says the bodies 
west are found buried on a level with 
the land surrounding the mound, and 
concludes from this fact that slight 
covering of earth was first placed 
over thff dead, and after the spot 
was pretty much taken up with in- 
terments the mound was then piled up 
after the manner of the pyramids of 
Egypt, or in conformity to our custom 
of honoring the dead by the erection of 
monuments. As this mound is about 
twenty feet above the level of the plain 
around it, it would probably require 
about that amount of excavation to 
reach the bodies, if they are there. — 
The fact that the mounds in the \vest 
were first made by hands was first as- 
certained by the nature of the soil com- 
posing the mound, it being different 
from all the land lying about it. This 
caused excavations to be made. The 
spot from whence the earth composing 
the mounds in the west was taken, 
it seems next to impossible to ascer- 
tain. Like the stone of which the 
pyramids are built it must have been 
transported from a distance. 

There is a mound in Illinois called 
mount Joliet, built in a pyramidal 
form and of dimensions which discov- 
ers the great labor required to construct 
it. Its height is 60 feet or nearly four 
rods perpendicular, its length S4 rods, 
its width 14 rods and 196 rods in cir- 
cumference on the top— but much lar- 
ger at its base. This is regarded as 
the most extraordinary mound in this 
country, as also the 'largest. This 
mound consist of eighteen million two 
hundred solid feet of earth. It may 
not be improper to advert to the proba- 
ble origin of mounds or tombs by cop- 
ying the following from the American 
Antiquities. 

"AxciENT Tumuli are considered a kind of 
antiquities, differing in character from that of 
the other works ; both on account of what is fre- 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



15 



quently discoverd in them, and the manner of 
their construction. They are conical mounds, 
either of earth or stones,' which were intended 
for sacred and important purposes. In many 
parts of the world, similar mounds were used 
as monuments, sepulchres, altars and temples. 
The accounts of these works, found in the 
Scriptures, show, that their origin must be 
sought for among the antedeluvians. 



That they are very ancient. 



and were used as 



places of sepulture, public resort, and public 
worship, is proved by all the writers of ancient 
times, both sacred and profane- Homer, the 
most ancient Greek poet frequently mentions 
them, particularly describing the tumulus of 
Tydeus, and l he spot where it was. In memo- 
ry of the illustrious dead, a sepulchral mound 
of earth was raised over their remains ; which, 
from that time forward, became an altar, where- 
on to olter sacrifices, and around which to ex- 
hibit games of athletic exercise. These offer- 
inss and games were intended to propitiate 
their names, to honor and perpetuate their 
memories. Prudentius, a Roman bard, has 
told us, that there were in ancient Rome, just 
as many temples of the gods, as there were sep- 
ulchres of the heroes ; implying that they were 
the same." 

Antiquarians believe this country to 
have been once peopled by a civilized 
race originating in Asia. They insist 
that the antiquities of the country show 
this. But it is a matter foreign to our 
subject and we leave it as we find it. 

We extract from the "Annals of 
Binghamton" a brief account of an- 
tiquities discovered in the town of 
Greene : 

"There were no Indians in this particular 
section, when first settled by the whites. But 



burnt ; suggesting the idea, that the mode of 
disposing of the dead, when these bones were 
deposited, was the burning of the dead body.— - 
No conjecture could be formed as to the number 
of bodies buried here. They were found lying 
without order, very much jumbled, and so far 
decayed as to crumble, or fall apart, when 
brought to the air and handled. The supposi- 
tion would not be an unlikely one, that these 
bones were the remains of bodies which had faU 
len in battle, and were afterwards hurriedly 
thrown together and buried. •••••♦ In the 
mound near Greene, there were found lying, 
quite in one pile, 200 arrow heads, cut after 
their usual form, and all either of yellow or 
black flint. It will be recollected that there 
are no stones of this kind found in this part of 
the State of New York. In another part of 
the mound there were found, lying together, 
about sixty made after the same form- A sil- 
ver band or ring was also found, of about two 
inches in diameter, extremely thin, but wide, 
with the remains— in appearance— of a reed 
pipe, lying within it. The supposition is, that 
I it was some sort of a musical instrument. — 
I There was also found a number of stone chisels, 
I of different shapes, evidently fitted to perform 
! different species of work. A large piece of 
I mica also, cut into the form of a heart ; the 
I border much decayed, and the different laminaa 
seperated." 

j We have recently had a conversation 

] with Moses Abram, a nephew (as he 

I represents himself,) of Abram Antoine, 

and one of the Oneida tribe. He was 

asked to interpret the meaning of the 

\ term Chenango. He replied it was not 

Chenango but Chenengo, and altered by 

the whites to Chenango. He said the 

1 name was not Oneida but Tuscarora, as 

" as the term Canashewacta, pro- 



we have to recoid a "^^^J-.y^^^^l-l^.^'j'f, "1°"^^ \ nounced in modem times Canasawacta. 

the relic of Indian superstition and industrj .— . ,. 

There are now to be seen only some imperfect Moses was asked what part of this 



county the Indians most loved to in- 
habit. He replied, the Canashewacta 
country and Oxford, He thought they 
did not like Ot.selic so much, but the 



traces of it. It was situated about two 
miles south of the village, and about ninety rods 
from the river bank, on what is now the farm of 
Mr. Lett. The mound, before it was dug down 
or plouahed over, was about six or seven feet 
above the surface of the ground, and forty feet |. hunting was good there. He said he 
in diameter ; bcin<r nearly circular. There was j^ ,^^,^g pj.ggg„j when Antoine killed Ja- 
also. till within a few years, a large pine stump,, ,^ TKnt Vip npvpr =awhim look 
in the centre of it, the remains of a large pine- I Cobs. i hat he never .aw him looK 
tree which was standing when the whites came l| more good natured than Avhen he struck 
in. It was then; however, a dead tree. When |! hisknifeinto Jacob'sside. But Antoine's 
it was cut down, there were counted 180 cir-|i pQyj^,gPj^j^j,g 5,^0,., changed, and mads 



les or yearly growths. Estimating the age of 
the mound by the circles of the stump, it roust 
have been over two hundred years old when 
this section of the country was settled. An 
examination of this mound was made in 1^29, 
bv digginc, and there w^ere found human bones 
to a great number ; and lower from the surface, 
therc^wcre found bones that had been evidently 



! the Indians standing by, fear an attack 
[iupon themselves, Moses was asked 
I how the white people obtained the In- 
j dian possessions in this county? His 
|i countenance dropped, his eye almost 
■closed for a moment, when he sulkily 



16 



HISTORY OF 



replied, " ugh ! run 'cm ofl"! run 'em 
ofl'I ! " Moses thinks the first log house 
upon the Corporation of Norwich, was 
located nearly in rear of the Court Mouse 
on the spot where the widow of Peter 
B. Guernsey now resides. He under- 
stood the first white men who settled in 
Norwich, were squatters, and removed 
when the land was purchased by indi- 
viduals or companies from the State. 

In the town of New Berlin, on the 
farm of Mr. Scribner, situate opposite 
or nearly so, to the Indian fields in Ot- 
sego county, gun barrels have been 
plowed up as also human skeletons, 
stone tomakawks and arrow points. It 
is the opinion of the old settlers, in the 
vicinity of these fields, they were once 
the theatre of a severe battle fought be- 
tween several tribes of savages. 

After we had published an account 
of the Indian Cemeteries found in the 
County, wc were informed, upon what 
we deem reliable authority, that many 
years ago, Caspeii M. Rouse, then the 
owner of the farm upon which the pres- 
«;nt grave yard in Norwich village is 
situated, contemplated the erection of 
H farm-house on the eastern slope of 
this yard. The spot had not at that 
early day been set apart by the settlers 
for interments. JMr. Rouse designed 
to build his house with an underground 
kitchen and cellar, and, lo further his 
purpose made a farmers bee to remove 
the earth for the foundation. The dig- 
gers were proceeding with shovels, 
plows and scrapes, when they suddenly 
came in contact with human bones in 
such great numbers as to deter Mr. 
Rouse iVom the further execution of his j 
enterprise, and it was accordingly aban- 
doned. The bones were discovered in 
an upright position or nearly so. We 
are indebted for this piece of informa- 
tion to General Tiio.mpson Meade, who 
came to Chenango in 1792 (recently 
removed to Illinois,) and whose mem- 
ory at the advanced age of seventy 
years or over is exceedingly clear. 

As was remarked, the mounds of 
which we speak are of great antiquity ; 



and the existence of occasional deposites 
of dead bodies outside them does not 
disprove or weaken the circumstances, 
going to show tbcir having been the bu- 
rying spots of a people who lived in 
this County a great many years ago. 
The interments about Norwich village 
may have been one or two hundred 
years ago. Those in the mounds in 
this county a tliousand years aco. Ma- 
nj!- of the stone implements of Avar ex- 
humed from the earth, may have been 
deposited with bodies that have moul- 
dered away leaving the ornaments of 
the dead alone remaining. 

When the Chenango Canal was be- 
ing dug, some laborers found several 
skeletons about four miles north of Ox- 
ford village, near what was once known 
as Gates' Tavern. This information 
we have from a person who informs us 
he was present at the exhumation of 
the remains, by the excavators. 

A resident of Oxford informs us, that 
at Paget's brook soine four miles below 
O.xford are breast-works which appear 
to have been Indian fortifications. They 
are circular and consist of about twen- 
ty-five separate embankments, running 
nearly into each other. Over these el- 
evations of the earth -stand aged trees. 
The works themselves are not high, va- 
rying from one to two feet from the 
level of the ground around them. But 
the original heighth of Ancient Forts 
made of earth, after a lapse of many 
years, cannot be correctly ascertained. 
The action of the weather, particularly 
of wet weatiier, is very destructive to 
them. 

In the village of Oxford, in past 
years, as improvements at vari- 
ous times advanced in the neighbor- 
hood of Fort Hill, many Indian relics 
were found, such as Stone Hatchets — 
Flint Arrow points — Stone Chisels, Sec. 
A few years ago, many Indian graves 
were broken in upon, while laying some 
pump logs. The bed of the graves 
were lined with cobble stone resem- 
bling in many respects the pavement 
used in City highways. Triere was 




MLA^o (^MMMMAJL JOMM ^FJLlLirrJ^' 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



17 



an upper and under lining of stone. | 
But the roof or upper ceiling of the 
vault had fallen upon the lower. 

It IS impossible in our day to estimate 
the number of warriors of the Six Na- 
itons and their allies, who, long before 
the arrival of white faces, poured 
through this valley on their march to 
the Clierokee, Creek, and Seminole 
countries to make war. Then again, 
I our valley must have swarmed with 
^ these combatants on their return home 
■ from their savage contests. Some of 
their population no doubt died and were i 
buried in some convenient spot which j 
was not the usual place of deposite of 
the dead. 

We will take this opportunity to re- 
mark, that the exact location of the Cas- 
tle is on that portion of Mr. Hall's farm 
boundmg on the east bank of the Che 
nango river, where are yet standing a 
few apple trees, planted by the natives 
and which are about the last trace of 
the former habitation of the Aborigines 
in Norwich. 

By this time it will be apparent to the 
reader of these sketches, that Chenan- 
go County is barren of those thrilling 
incidents in revolutionary history and 
border warfare which occurred in ma- 
ny of the other counties in the State and 
which are contemplated by the middle 
aged, the old and young, with absorbing 
interest. The natives of this region 
sought other fields for the display of 
their valor and the shedding of blood. 
Otsego, Tioga, Herkimer and Oneida 
Counties, can recount bloody battles lost 
and won. But the men who took part 
in those mixt affrays, and were promi- 
nent actors, once occupied the soil we 
now cultivate. The march of the ar- 
my of Gen. Sullivan, against the Indi- 
ans was near the borders of this Coun- 
ty, but the troops, did not cross into our 
territory at any point. 

During the latter years of the resi- 
dence of the Oneidas in this section, a 
tragical scene was enacted at the Cas- 
tle below Norwich. A young Oneida 
! addressed a very beautiful squaw be- 
longing to the same tribe, against her 



own inclinations, but with the approba- 
tion of parents ; who, in matrimonial 
affairs, generally take the welfare and 
affections of their offspring into their 
private keeping. The young savage 
was a man of rank and wealth, and 
with thpse accomplishments in his fa- 
vor, succeeded, over a rival possessing 
the maidens affections, in carrying the 
young woman to his wigwam. But 
his felicity was soon interrupted by the 
elopement of the bride with her more 
cherished lover. The husband pursued 
and found the guilty pair in a hut, occu- 
pying the same apartments. His arri- 
val, being in the night, was unknown to 
the fugitives, and while they were bu- 
ried in profound sleep, he entered, with 
knife in hand, their lodging room, and 
first taking the life of the paramour, 
next inflicted dreadful wounds upon his 
wife, of which however, she finally re- 
covered. To try this offence the Indi- 
ans assembled in solemn council, heard 
proofs, and, after duly considering the 
flagrant provocation, acquitted the ac- 
cused. 

Another Indian Court was once con- 
vened in Norwich, to determine a dis- 
pute between an Indian and one of the 
settlers. The offence charged by the 
aggrieved party, was the despoliation 
of a rifle, celebrated for its excellent 
shooting properties, and one that had 
been known in the hands of its owner 
to do fatal execution. He complained 
that this valuable implement had been 
siezed from him, and wantonly bent 
along the barrel, by a blow across a log, 
in such a manner as to render it worth- 
less. The Indians, who were friends 
of the injured party, came secretly and 
laid in wait several days to take ven- 
geance upon the offender. The Chief 
receiving intelligence of the affair, 
summoned the Court, which was held 
upon this occasion, in solemn form, 
and after hearing allegations on both 
sides, adjudged, by the aid of his sense 
carrier, that the rifle should be restored 
or replaced by another equally good ; 
he also exacted the further condition, as 
preliminary to the adjustment of the 



18 



HISTORY OF 



difference, that the white settlers should 
henceforth abstain from selling- wnis- 
key to the Indians; or sell it to them 
in quantities insufficient to intoxicate. 

'i he Oiic'idas experienced from some 
of the early settlers of the valley offi- 
ces of charity and kindness, which thev 
warmly acknowledged. When it was 
finally determined by the tribe to em- 
igrate to the west, many of the recipi- 
ents of these favors canie into the val- 
ley to exchange courtesies and bid a fi- 
nal adieu. 

There are flying reports, of a battle 
having been fought at a very early day 
upon the Indian fields below Norwich. 
But after much inquiry, we are unable 
to ascertain any particulars, or lo trace 
these rumors loan authentic source.-^ 
It is possible, and indeed probable, thai 
parties of Indian hunters got into col- 
lision about infringements of flieir 
game-laws ; and in ihe affray lives may 
have been lost upon these fields. Hos- 
tile encounters and general melees of- 
ten happen among untutored members 
of the same tribe, as also between strol- 
ling parlies belonging to various tribes; 
and this without open, and declared 
warfare resulting, or at the lime exist- 
ing. 

To give an illustration, Abram An- 
toine once on a hunting excursion to 
the northward of Greene village, pur- 
sued and wounded a deer. The ani- 
mal took to Highl, followed close up by 
thelndian. A settler at length shot down 
the deer, and was in the act of dressing 
it when Antoine came up. He claimed 
the deer, and set about taking posses- 
sion. The settler defended his' right, 
and a scuffle ensued. Antoine drew 
a knife, the white man retreated a few 
yards and presented the muzzle of his 
gun full in the Indian's face, threaten- 
ing to fire if he approached tlie game. 
The Indian finally yielded ihe prize, 
and here the dispute ended. The same 
occurrence among Indians would have 
terminated differently, as their pride 
and resentment must have become in- 
volved. 



Affrays of this nature were no doubt 
frequent, and in lime u ere exaggerated 
by tradition, into pitched battles impli- 
eating the various Indian nations. 

We now pass from the Indians and 
their aflairs to the race who succeeded 
to their homes in this County. To make 
the trausiiion without unbecoming ab- 
ruptness, it is proper to devote some 
space to a brief inquiry concerning the 
acquisition of title, by governments and 
individuals, to the possessions of foreign 
nations. To do this we must incorpo- 
rate into these pages some of the had- 
ing features of the laws of nations. 

The law of nations is defined to be 
"a system of rules, founded in natural 
reason, and established by universal 
consent among the civilized inhabitants 
of the world " 

The '"present title of individuals to 
the territory comprising Chenango coun- 
ty, is derived either mediately or imme- 
diately from the Slate, and is held and 
enjoyed by them, subject in a limited 
degree to govermental authority. The 
county was OY\g\na\\y purchased by the 
State of New York 'from the Indians, 
and resold again to patentees, comprised 
of coujpanies and individuals, promis- 
cuously. But independent of treaties 
and public purchases the State exerci- 
ses certain jurisdiction over the rights 
of the Indians, and those of their pos- 
sessions which they have never aliened 
in any manner to the government. 

States and discoverers resort to nu- 
merous artifices and expedients, to ac- 
quire to themselves an,tJ subject to their 
sway the dominions of foreign, inde- 
pendent nations. Prominent among 
these may be enumerated the title ac- 
quired by conquest, by discovery, by 
cultivation The right* acquired in this 
general way is more often confined to 
the assertion of sovereignty, leaving the 
private proprietor in the unmolested oc- 
cupation of his wealth, on condition 
that he will acknowledge the suprema- 
cy of his conquerer or discoverer. It 
must have sounded oddly to the simple 
savages of this country, when Columbus 
informed them he had discovered them 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



19 



and their Country! more especially as | 
this was probably the first suspicion 
they entertained of having been lost. 

Foreign nations, originally set up a 
claim to America in right of this dis- 
covery and conquest, as laid down and 
sanctioned by the laws of nations but 
proceeded no further to enforce claims, 
than to cause an acknowledgement by 
the savages of the legitimacy of ihea 
right. When in after times it was 
deemed expedient to become the pri- 
vate proprietors of Indian lands, the 
European States accomplished this ob- 
ject through the agency of treaties ; and 
deeds of purchase founded upon satis- 
factory, if not adequate, recompense for 
the surrender. 

The chief treaties and settlements 
made on this continent were perlected 
under the auspices of the English Na- 
tion. By recurring to history, it will be 
found that Briions, in early times were 
exceeding fond of disposessing their 
neighbors of their hard earned estates. 
Tliat under the lead of William the 
Norman, they took forcible posession 
of the British Islands, despoiling the 
unoffending Saxons. Imitating the an- 
cient Romans, they not only captured 
the country, requiring the conquered to 
pay tribute, but appropriated .all the 
landed property to their private uses, 
and not only so, but finally subjected 
the dispirited people to the most gal- 
ling servitude. Between the Norman 
and Roman conquests, there appears to 
have been this difference ; the Romans 
not only occupied or laid waste ihe con- 
quered country, but they often made in 
discriminate slaughter of unresisting 
enemies. Many characteristics com- 
mon to the old Roman system of war- 
fare is practised at this day among sav- 
ages. 

Following up the usurping disposition 
of their early captains, the English in 
modern times poured armies upon ihe 
effeminate oeople of India, until they 
have denation ilized that coun'.ry. The 
cruelties exercised by the keeper of the 
Black Hole, at Calcutta, was the pre- 
text ; but the process of subjugation be- 



gan previous to that barbarous act.— 
Few native princes within the reach of 
British armies, are left in undisturbed 
possession of their thrones. 

Those allowed to sway the sceptre 
almost universally acknowledge fealty 
to the viciors rule. Whenever and 
wherever Englishmen emigrate, their 
'first ambition seems to be to bring their 
adopted country under the control of the 
home government. When the Puritans 
set out for America, they fled from a 
grievous oppression, but no sooner had 
they established themselves, than their 
earliest thoughts were occupied with 
schemes to raise up a new empire for 
their oppressors, 

William the Conquerer divid'^d up 
the Saxon Estates among his military 
family, after the manner of parcelling 
out rations in his camp ; he regulated 
the quantit}"^ of land bestowed, by the 
ranic the beneficiary had attained in his 
army. Tne lands thus given out were 
held as a reward for past and future 
military services. Hence the origin of 
the present nobility of England j and 
hence too, why tillage in that country 
is more respected than commercial pur- 
suits. 

The United States and State sover- 
eignties, as successors to the English 
Government, in this country, claim orig- 
inal proprietorship lo all the soil lying 
Within their respective boundaries. — 
Europeans asserted an original right to 
this country, as conquerors and discov- 
erers ; but in addition to these claims 
they set up others, which may here be 
enumerated. They insisted upon their 
right to the Indian Countries, because 
of greater excellence founded on better 
civilization, superior agricultural knowl- 
edge, Christianity, and skill in the art 
of wa7\ We cannot readily suppose 
the savages acknowUdged that Chris- 
tianity and war-skill, entitled foreigners 
to an absolute ri;^ht to crowd them out 
of their homes or off from their pater- 
nal acres. But right or wrong, these 
doctrines arc now firmly incorporated 
into the Universal law of nations which 



HISTORY OF 



governs the conduct of all men in the 
civilized state. 

To test the actual workings of the 
principles established by this law, 
let us make the case our own and prac- 
tically apply its docLrines. Suppose by 
some mysterious allotment of Provi- 
dence, it should fall out that a people 
possessing military skill excelling ours, 
(happily no such nation exists,) and con- 
scious of their superiority, this people 
were to semi captain? and trained bandc; 
into New York Harbor; that they 
even succeed in destroying the cily ; 
and after this build up a monument ; 
erect a flag staff; hoist from its peak 
their country's ensign ; and after en- 
acting these and other symbols of own- 
ership by discovery and conquest, de- 
part for their homes? that on their re- 
turn they were to advertise their ru- 
ler how splendid a land they had 
founded, every rood of which was his 
private property ? 

Before enlarging upon the ethics of 
discovery and conquest, we will refer 
the reader to a fragment from the wri- 
tings of Washington Irving, who, while 
he has made a very amusing caricature, 
has at the same time given a pun- 
gent critic upon modern commentators 
on national law. 

RIGHT OF DISCOVERY. 

" The first source of right, by which property 
is acquired in a country, is discovery. For as 
all mankind have an equal right to any thing 
which has never before been appropriated, so 
any nation that discovers an uninhabited coun- 
try, and takes possession thereof, is considered 
as enjoying full property, and absolute, unques- 
tionable empire therein. 

" This proposition being admitted, it follows 
clearly, that the Europeans who first visited 
America, were the real discoverers of the same; 
nothirg being necessary to the establishment of 
this fact, but simbly to prove that it was totally 
uninhabited by man. This would at first ap- 
pear to be a point of some dilficulty : for it is 
well known, that this quarter of the world 
abounded with certain animals, that walked 
erect on two feet, had sometliing of the hu- 
man countenance, uttered ceitain unintelligible 
sounds, very much like language ; in short, had 
a marvellous resemblance to human beings. 

" But the zealous and enlightened fathers, 
who accompanied the discoverers, for the pur- 



pose of promoting the kingdom of heaven by 

establishing fat monasteries and bishoprics on 
earth, soon cleared up this point, greatly to the 
satisfaction of his holiness tlie pope, and of all 
Christian voyagers and discoverers. 

" They plainly proved, and as there were no 
Indian wruers to take the other side, the fact 
was considered as fully admitted and establish- 
ed, that the two-legged race of animals bcforo 
mentioned were mere cannibals, detestable mon- 
sters, and many of them giants— which last de- 
scription of vagrants have, since the time of 
Gog. Magog and Goliath, been considered as 
outlaws, and have received no quarter in either 
history, chivalry or song. Indeed, even the phi. 
losophic Bacon declared the Americans to be 
people proscribed by the laws of nature, inas- ' 
much as they had a barbarous custom of sacrifi. 
cing men, and feeding upon man's flesh. 

'• But the benevolent fathers, who had under- 
taken to turn these unhappy savages into dumb 
beasts, by dint of argument, advanced still 
stronger proofs ; for, as certain divines of the 
sixteenth century, and among the rest Lullus, 
affirm, the Americans go naked, and have no 
beards !—•' They have nothing," says Lullus, 
" of the reasonable animal, except the mask." 
And even that mask was allowed to avail them 
but little : for it was soon found that they were 
of a hideous copper complexion — and being of 
a copper complexion, it was all the same as if 
thi'V were negroes- -and negroes are black ; " and 
black," said the pious fathers, devoutly cross- 
ing themselves, '' is the color of the devil!" 
Tlierefore, so far from being able to hold prop- 
erty, they had no right even to personal free, 
dom-for liberty is too radiant a deity to inhab- 
it such gloomy temples. All which circum- 
stances plainly convinced the righteous follow- 
ers of Cortes and Pizarro, that these miscre. 
ants had no title to the soil that they infested — 
tliat they were a perverse, illiterate, dumb, 
beardless,, black seed— mere wild beasts of the 
forest, and like them should either be subdued 
or exterminated." 

Of all modes of logic ever coined to 
acquire the proprietorship of new coun- 
tries, the speculations of the Puritans 
were by far the most novel, quaint and 
alarming! Before leaving England to 
embark hither, they proclaimed a solemn 
manifesto, running in this most extraor- 
dinary language. 

" The lohoh earth ivas the Lord's gar- 
den, and he has given it to the sons of 
Adam to be tilled and improved by them.^^ 

They next resolve themselves to be 
the sons of Adam. They omitted to say 
whose sorts the Indians were ! This doc- 
trine, while confined to paper, did no 
harm as the savages knew nothing of it. 
It must have been highly inexpedient, in 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



n 



the then powerful state of the native 
tribes, to attempt reduction of such a max- 
im to practice. The savages were luck- 
ily for them, too numerous to be encoun- 
tered for the enforcement of the puritan 
doctrine. If the Indians had insisted 
they too were the sons of Adam, they 
certainly would have defended their es- 
tates in case of any eflbrt at disposses- 
sion. But the doctrine of sovereignty 
and jurisdiction, by virtue of discovery 
and conquest, as it did not molest the 
savages in the enjoyment of their hunt- 
ing grounds, and as they were ignorant 
of it, of course made no heart burnings 
between them and the Puritans. 

We will now pass to the present rela- 
tions existing between the Indians and 
our government as interpreted by the 
United States Supreme Court from time j 
to time, when vexed questions have been I 
brought before that distinguished tribu- 
nal. The Court has fixed the rights of 
the savages upon common law basis, and 
has on different occasions interpreted and 
limited acts of Congress and the laws 
which State Legislatures have passed 
over the various tribes. 

The early acquiescence of the Eng- 
lish government, allowing the natives 
the occupancy of the soil until it was ta- 
ken from them by purchase or consent, 
has now become a part of the establish- 
ed law of the land. The Court decides 
that the Indian tribes are separate na- 
tions, retaining the possession of their 
countries as occupants, subject to the 
right of the General Government to ex- 
ercise jurisdiction in certain cases over 
them. The natives, for their OAvn pro- 
tection and preservation, are by law in- 
capacitated from alienating their lands to 
individuals, without express sanction of 
the government. They are wards in a 
State of pupilage, and the government is 
the guardian of their persons and estates. 

It has sometimes occurred that law- 
yers, when contending before the Su' 
preme Court for Indian rights, have in 
sisted that the aborigines are the true 
and only owners of the soil ; that their 
title is superior to all claims, becausa 



they had the earliest occupancy. To 
this position the Judges have uniformly 
replied, that " Courts do not at this late 
day, listen to any reasoning in favor of 
the 'abstract rights of the natives to the 
country founded on prior possession." 

It may also be affirmed that whenev- 
er Indian reservations fail within State 
boundaries, the local government claims 
to exercise exclusive authority ; ignoring" 
every right which the General Govern-* 
men't may have assumed during the ab- 
sence, or before the organization of the 
State jurisdiction. As for example ; 
when crimes are committed by the sav- 
ages within the territorial limits of New 
York, although the offence be punisha- 
ble by Indian laws, and in cases too 
where the white people are in no wise 
compromised ; as when one Indian takes 
the life of another ! Yet in all of these 
instances the State assumes to try and 
punish. 

This assumed right to enforce laws 
against men, who do not in general, un- 
derstand the English language; and 
when, if the offender is discharged in 
our courts, he may nevertheless be again 
arraigned, and a second time put in jeop- 
ardy," before the Indian tribunals for the 
same offence ; is beyond all measure 
mortifying and corroding to savage pride, 
it destroys nearly every image, or linger- 
ing vestige of his nationality. We will 
illustrate by calling attention to the ar- 
raig-nment, trial and execution of the 
memorable Abram Antoine, whom Ave 
have so often had occasion to refer to in 
different parts of these sketches. An- 
toine was recognized by adoption, as a 
member of the Oneida tribe. He was 
by nature ferocious, vindictive and rest- 
less ; but notwithstanding his blood-thirs- 
ty disposition, he possessed many traits 
of character indicative of an acute and 
vigorous mind. He was never known to 
relent in anger, nor to forgive a foe. The 
Indians hated him with all the animosity 
there ever is in fear. They would glad- 
ly have taken his life to be rid of his dan- 
gerous temper. About the year 1821, 
they assisted the -ft-hite people to arrest 
him for murder, and when once a captive, 



HISTORY OF 



they rejoiced that a great danger was j! thence due west to the Chenengo river ; 
put out of their way. IJat, notwithsttuid- 1| thence southerly down the Chenengo 
ing all these considerations, as llie time j river to where il empties into the Sus- 
Ibr his trial approaciied — the trial by i quehaunah river, and to the line, com- 
pale faces of an Indian for an oiieuce'\mon\y calicd ihe line of propcriij estab- 
against Indians! Savage pride rose su- '! li^hed at a treaty held at Fort Stanwix 



perior to personal danger, insomuch that 
other tribes as well as the Oneidas, felt 
the disgrace, and remonstrated against 
the New York Courts assuming jurisdic- 
tion over Antoine's person. They pro- 
tested he should be delivered up to be 
dealt with by his tribe. It harrowed 
their very souls to think one of their num- 
ber should be tried and condemned by 
men who spoke a foreign tongue, and 
who possessed neither sympathies, feel- 
ings nor interests in harmony with the 
prisoner. Such a severe trial of pride 
was more than the ardent temperaments 
of the savages could submit to. A res- 
cue of the accused was threatened ; and 
prevented only by calling out troops to 
keep night and day vigils around the 
jail. \Ve can estimate violent anguish 
by its outward manifestations. But who 
can compute the silent mortification, hor- 
ror and grief, tiie savages endured, when, 
as silent spectators, they stood in clus- 
ters under the gallows to see execution 
done upon the person of the prisoner, by 
virtue of New York laws ? 

GOVERNOR CLINTON'S PURCHASES. 

In the year 17S5, the State of New 
York, by GEorvCE Clinton, the gover- 
nor, negotiated a treaty Vvrith the Chiefs 
and Sachems of the Oneida and Tusca- 
rora Indians. The treaty was consum- 
mated at Fort Herkimer in the county of 
Montgomery and within the boundaries 
of New York. It reads in this wise: 

In consideration of eleven thousand 
and five hundred dollars hi goods and 
money paid to the Indians ; they convey 
or cede to the State, the territory included 
within the subjonied limits. IBoundary: 
"Beginning at the mouth of the Unadil- 
la or Tianaderha river, where the same 
empties into the Susquehanna ; thence up 
the said Unadilla or' Tianaderha river 



ten miles, measured on a straight line ; [ of demarkation was styled the "line of 



in the year 1768; thence along the said 
line to the place of beginning ; so as to 
comprehend all the lands belonging to 
the Oneida and Tuscarora nation of In- 
dians lying south of a line to be run from 
the Unadilla or Tianaderha river to the 
Clienengo river ; and north of the divi- 
sion line between this state and Penn- 
sylvania." 

The commissioners for Indian affairs 
assisted Gov Clinton in adjusting the 
terms of the treaty and in defining the 
territory ceded. 

By this convention the State of New 
York became owner of all that portion 
of this County lying between the Che- 
nango, Susquehannah, Tianaderha and 
Unadilla rivers and bounding north on 
the fifteenth township of the twenty 
townships, and known as the south 
bounds of the town of Norwich. The 
State also by the terms of this treaty 
became proprietor of all that portion of 
the county lying east of the Susque- 
hannah river, including South Bain- 
bridge. These lands so purchased by 
the state, extended far beyond the bound- 
aries of the county. We shall confine 
the history to that part of the purchase 
lyinsf within the county. 

We Avill here make a digression to ex- 
plain what is understood by the expres- 
sion, "line of property." In the course 
of these sketches we have had occasion 
to advert to the treaty made at Fort 
Stanwix in the year 176S. When first 
it was alluded to, we were not fully ap- 
prised what particular point the line 
made as it passed this county. It 
will be remembered we have described 
this treaty, and shown that the Indians 
ceded to the English government all terri- 
tory east of a boundary run out from near 
the last named fortification, in a south- 
eastcrlv direction to the junction of the 
Ohio and Mississippi rivers. This line 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



23 



property." That is, the line dividing 
the Indian and English possessions. — 
This line was in part the tJnadilla river 
to where it empties itself into ^the Sus- 
quehannah. From the mouth of the 
Susquehannah it bore off in an easterly- 
course to the IMohawk branch of the Dela- 
ware river. 

The difficulty in defining this line 
earlier arose from the circumstance 
of the Unadilla river being designated 



State lands weie sold so low as three 
cents an acre ; then retailed to the set- 
tlei's at great advance over the price paid. 
Gov. Clinton made an able defence 
when he declared, it was of vital impor- 
tance to the prosperity and welfare of 
the State that its domain should be dis- 
posed of at reduced prices ; to in- 
vite hither immigrants and foreign capi- 
tal. He insisted that not waste lands, 
but population was the true source of 



the old maps, the Ticnaderha\\V^;os])enty, wea. 



upon 
i' Creek. Furthermore the Chenango river 1 1 
is not noted down upon the ancient colo- 
nial map which we examined. We are j 
unable to inform the reader at what pre- ] 
: cise date the Unadilla river, above its 
! confluence with the Butternut creek, re- 
j ceived its present cognomen. The river 
I below this creek retains its original 
s name. The change was made after 
; 1768, and before 1785 ; but it was grad- 
;■ ual, as the same stream seems in the lat- 
i! ter year to be equally recognized by eith- 
t er name. Originally it was called Tion- 
[; aderha and subsequently was altered to 
i; its present orthography ; Tianaderha. — 
The line of property was the bounda- 
ry of the back settlements of the Eng- 
lish in New York, as also of the other 
colonies bordering on the Atlantic coast. 
The land obtained by the treaty at 
Fort Herkimer was soon after disposed 
of by the State to patentees compos- 
ed of companies and private purchasers 
promiscuously. We have a list of the 
prominent ones which will be published 
for the inspection of all. It will be un- 
derstood that the greater part of the ter- 
ritory bought by these patentees lies be 
yond the bounds of the County. 

Soon after the termination of the 
revolutionary war, grievous complaints 
were preferred against Gov. Clinton, be 
cause of his permitting the public lands 
to pass into the hands of speculators at 
nominal prices. The charge, that the 
Governor retained for himself secret in- 
terest in the sales, although not proven 
against him, was believed by the people, 
and put his great popularity for a time 
into extreme danger. In some instances 



1th and revenue to New 



York. 



GOV. 



CLINTON'S PURCHASE OF THE 
TWENTY TOWNSHIPS. 



About the year 17SS, George Clinton, 
as Chief Magistrate of the State, effect- 
ed a second treaty with the Chiefs and 
Sachems of the Oneida and Tuscarora 
Indians, as well as other tribes, by which 
a further cession of all the lands owned 
by the various nations treating with the 
governor Avas made to this State, except- 
ing out by nanrie certain reservations of 
territory to be retained by the several 
tribes for their exclusive occupancy. — 
This treat}' was accomplished at Fort 
Schuyler near to- Fort Stanwix in this 
State. The cession made in this year, in- 
cluded the well known twenty townships, 
extending so far as from the north line of 
Sangersfield in Oneida County, and Nel- 
son in IMadison County, to the Southern 
limits of the towns of Norwich, Preston, 
and McDonough in Chenango County. — 
The eastern boundary of the twenty 
towns in this county, is chiefily the Una- 
dilla river. But owing to the sinuosities 
of the channel, the Surveyor General 
deemed it most convenient to leave oc- 
casional gores or strips of land between 
the townships and the river. The twen- 
ty towns at one time were supposed by 
the Surveyor General to abut upon what 
is now known as the military tract. But 
by some misapprehension in fixing upon 
the point of departure, and by reason of 
a variation of the compass ; in running 
the north and south line on the west of 
the Townships ; a gore between the west 
line of the twenty towns and the militar 



£4 



HISTORY OF 



ry tract was left, which was of unequal 
width ; as it was some wider opposite 
the l3th town than it is at the north or 
first of the 20 towns. It has been repre- 
sented to us that it was some years be- 
fore the existence of this gore was known 
at the State department. It was not as- 
certained until the monuments defining 
the cast line of the military tract and the 
west line of the twenty towns had been 
triticaly examined. 

And here it is not inappropriate to put 
forth a few remarks about the military 
tract ; as it may become necesary to re- 
fer the reader to it Avhile sketching 
the twenty towns. On the 2Sth day 
of February ]7S9, the legislature of this 
Slate convened at Albany, in the pres- 
ent county of Albany, at its twelfth 
session, passed a law with this title. 
"An act to appropriate Hie lands set 
apart to the use of the troops of the line 
of this State, lately serving in the army of 
the United States, and for other purposes 
therein mentioned." The first act set- 
ting these particular lands apart for the 
troops was as early as 1782. But at 
this time the title of the Onondaga and 
Cayuga Indians had not been evtinguish- 
ed. They were, after the passage of the 
law of 1782, parties to the Fort Schuy- 
ler treaty of 1788, as well as the Onei- 
das and Tuscaroras. A survey was or- 
dered to be made by the Surveyor Gen- 
eral under the supervision of the com- 
missioners of the land office. In addi- 
tion to surveying the military tract into 
townships and numbering them, the com- 
missioners of the land ofhce were requi- 
red by law to Christen every town with 
some title by which it could be easily 
distinguished. The commissioners be- 
ing classical sr.holars and desirous to ac- 
knowledge their great appreciation of 
ancient snges, heroes, poets, orators and 
philosophers; did not deign to travel 
out of Greece or 1-Jome for more than 
two or three appellations. Thus adja- 
cent to Chenango on the west, we find 
the towns of Pompey, Fabius, Solon, and 
also Cincinnatus in Cortland' County. — 
Then a little way off in the soldiers coun- 
try, we have such towns as Brutus, Junius, 



Aurelius, Marcellus, Sempronius, ''Ho- 
mer, Virgil, Ulysses, Hector, Calo, Ga- 
len, Scipio, Ovid, and Romulus. 

The military tract extended and Avas 
surveyed out as far as from the west line 
of Chenango County, to the west side 
of Seneca lake. It extended as far 
north as Lake Ontario and Great Sodus 
Bay ; and as far south as the most south- 
ern inclination of Seneca Lake. In the 
language of the law, the eastern bounds 
of this tract was to be the "Oneida and 
Tuscarora Countries." Cincinnatus in 
Cortland is the south-east Cornerof this 
military reservation. 

We have now ascertained in what man- 
ner that portion of the county known by 
the style and designation of the twenty 
townships or Governor's purchase came 
to be the property of the State. Tavo 
communications were received by us 
from the State department relative to 
the treaty signed at Fort Schuyler; one 
of the two, omits any mention of the 
Tuscaroras as a party to this cession. 
The precise date of the treaty perfected 
at Fort Herkimer, is June 2Sth 1785. 
The date of the one arranged at Fort 
Schuyler, is September 22d, 17SS. 

The Twenty Townships, or Gover- 
nor's purchase are bounded on the north, 
generally, by the towns of Fenner, 
Smithfield and Stockbridge in Madison 
County; on the east bv the town of 
Bridgewater in Oneida County, and be- 
low Bridgewater by the Unadilla river, 
except a few narrow gores intervening; 
on the south by Oxford, Smithville and 
Guilford ; on the west by the Cfore sepa- 
rating the Towns from the military tract 
before referred to and explained. 

Having given the profile of the Twen- 
ty Towns, and it appearing from this 
outline that they contain a large portion 
of the County, most of the north part ; 
we will now recite or give a synopsis 
of the act of the legislatiue, passed 
February 25th, 1789, authorizing the 
creation or erection of these Townships. 

The terms of the act required "the 
Surveyor General to locate the Twenty 
Townships within certain specified lim- 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



25 



MAP OF CHENANGO COUNTY, embracing the Governor's Purchase or Twenty 
Townshipp, as exhibited by figures 1 to 20 inclusiveT Doct. C. H. Ecclesion Ensr'r, Oxford. 




References.— Township No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 18, 19, 20, in Madison County. Towns—no. 7 
Otselic ; 8, Smyrna ; 9, Sherburne ; 10, North Norwich ; 11, Plymouth ; 12, Pharsalia ; 13, M*^- 
Donough ; 14, "IPreston ; 15, Norwich ; A, Lincltlaen ; B. Pitcher ; C, German ; D, Smithville ; 
Ej Oxford ; F, Guilford ; G, Bainbridge ; H, Coventry ; I, Greene. 

4 



26 



HISTORY OF 



its, as follows : Upon the eastern side 
of the lands then recently purchased of 
the Oncidas at Fort Schuyler ; lying 
south of the lands reserved by this tribe 
of Indians ; and being north of the ter- 
ritory purchased from the same tribe and 
the Tuscaroras by the treaty executed at 
Fort Herkimer and already alluded to 
as being made in June 1785. The 
Towns were afterwards surveyed out and 
numbered from one to twenty inclusive. 
A part of these towns are located in 
Madison County. The town of Nelson 
comprises all of the first township ; Ea- 
ton the second; Madison the third; 
Hamilton the fourth; Lebanon the fifth ; 
Georgetown the sixth ; Brookfield the 
eighteenth and nineteenth. We then 
come to the twentieth township compri- 
sing the town of Sangersfield, in Onei- 
da County. 

The remaining eleven townships of 
the Governor's Purchase, are located in 
Chenango county, as follows : namely, 
Otselic comprises the seventh township; 
Smyrna the eighth; Sherburne the 
ninth ; North Norwich part of the tenth ; 
Plymouth comprises the eleventh ; Phar- 
salia the twelfth ; McDonough the thir- 
teenth ; Preston a part of the fourteenth ; 
Norwich parts of the fourteenth and fif- 
teenth ; New Berlin comprises the six- 
teenth and parts of the tenth and fif- 
teenth ; Columbus comprises the seven- 
teenth. We will enumerate the gore 
towns, although they lie to the west of 
the Twenty Towns and are not known 
on the map or survey of the Twenty 
townships as appears by the Surveyor 
General's map and field book on file 
with the Secretary of State. To name 
these towns will assist to keep up the 
connection of the gore with the Twenty 
towns. The gore as was remarked, is 
a tract left originally unsurveyed by the 
surveyor of the Twenty Towns, and by 
the surveyor of the east line of the mil- 
itary tract. A portion of the town of 
Cazenovia ; all the town of DeRuyter, 
in Madison county ; and the towns of 
Lincklaen, Pitcher and German in Che- 
nango County, comprise the entire gore. 
The South bounds of the Twenty towns 



are of course on a line with the south 
part of the gore, as also the north 
bounds. The north line of towns num- 
bers 7, 8, 9, 17, and also Lincklaen in 
the gore, are the northern limits of 
Chenango. 

It was customary at an early day to 
designate the various towns by their 
numbers, instead of the name which the 
town located upon the township might 
chance to bear. Thus, a Norwich, or 
Oxford or Sherburne citizen speaking 
of Pharsalia, always called it the twelfth. 
So also McDonough, the thirteenth ; the 
name itself being rarely or never pro- 
nounced. Of late years, as the old in- 
habitants once so familiar with the 
Township numbers have passed aAvay, 
this practice so common formerly, has 
fallen almost wholly into disuse. 

Thus much of the location of the re- 
spective towns ! In the survey there 
was run out three tier of towns east and 
west, containing an equal area or num- 
ber of lots, and the Twenty towns also 
contain five tier of townships in length, 
running north and south with a like 
equal number of lots; it follows then, 
that fifteen of the towns are of equal 
size. The remaining five towns are 
controlled more or less by the Unadilla 
river, except Sangersfield the twentieth 
town, and are of unequal proportions. 

But to proceed with the explanation 
or synopsis of the act for the survey of 
the towns. By giving an abstract of the 
act, we shall best express the origin of 
the towns and the objects the State de- 
signed to accomplish when the survey 
and sale of this section of the County 
was undertaken. 

The Surveyor General Simeon De- 
vi^itt, was instructed to cause twenty 
townships to be laid out and actually 
surveyed ; each township to be 500 
chains square, or so nearly so as circum- 
stances might admit. Alitor running the 
lines, the Surveyor General was to cause 
a monument to be erected at the ends of 
the outlines, and also at the termination 
of every fifty chains between the same; 
provided, local circumstances would ad- 
mit of the town lines being run straight. 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



27 



i After the outlines were run the Survey- 
or General was further required to sur- 
' vey out a line parallel to any of the 
straight lines of each township, the 
whole extent of the same, so as to di- 
vide each Township into four equal sec- 
tions, as nearly equal and as nearly 
square as circumstances would permit. 
These subordinate lines also to be defined 
by boundary monuments. After com- 
pleting this part of the survey, the Sur- 
veyor General was next to draught an 
■ accurate map of the Twenty towns so 
laid out and on his map was to divide 
each of the towns into lots containing 
250 acres each, or as nearly that num- 
ber of acres as the broken nature of cer- 
tain portions of the territory to be meas- 
' ured out would permit. The lines defi- 
ning the limits of the lots were to be 
drawn through the marks or monuments 
ordered to be made at intervals of fifty 
chains, as before stated, and also the 
marks or monuments made at the termi- 
nation of every 500 chains ; where the 
line of the lots might chance to fall on 
j the outlines of the Townships. The 
j lines so to be drawn for bounding the 
lots, were to be made parallel and at 
right angles to the straight sides of the 
i Townships. 

The lots in each township to be num- 
bered successively with the numbers 
from one to one hundred inclusive. A 
copy of the map and the field book, con- 
taining a description of the soil, timber, 
creeks, etc., in the respective towns was 
ordered to be placed on file in the Sec- 
retary of States office for public inspec- 
tion. Another copy of each, contain- 
'! ing the same description &c., to be kept 
S for public view in the Surveyor Genfei'- 
' al's office. The act further provided 
; that on every township surveyed out, 
one lot was to be marked (on the map) 
" GospeV ; another lot in the same town 
to be designated on the map " School." 
'. These two lots to be located as near to 
the center of each Township as might 
be, and to be reserved for religious and 
educational purposes. 

The act required the Surveyor Gen- 
eral to complete his surveys, after which 



it also enjoined upon the Comissioners 
of the land office, assisted by the advice 
and skill of the Surveyor General, to 
select five of the towns out of the Twen- 
ty townships as reserved or choice lands, 
which were to be sold only for gold or 
silver or to redeem a certain stock which 
the State had issued in the form of bills 
of credit. The act further devolved up- 
on the Commissioners- the duty of fix- 
ing or establishing such price or rates 
per acre for the respective Twenty towns 
as should be best calculated to accom- 
plish a ready sale and at the same time 
ensure the most revenue to the Treasu- 
ry department. But they were restric- 
ed in the exercise of their discretion, to 
a minimum of three shillings per acre. 
Below this amount they could not sell, 
and if no bid amounted to this sum, the 
sales could not take place. The three 
shillings were doubtless of the old cur- 
rency, computed by pounds, shillings 
and pence. The Commissioners were 
to advertise the towns for sale in public 
prints published in the Cities of Alba- 
ny and New York, by giving the pub- 
lic notice that up to a day named, which 
day was not to exceed three Calender 
months ; bids, or written proposals to 
purchase, would be received at the State 
department : at the end of three months 
from the first publication of the notice 
no further applications to be entertained. 
The sales contemplated by this act 
were very extensive, and being so, it will 
readily be perceived that three months 
advisement to the public, was an inex- 
cusably brief space of time to assemble 
purchasers. At that day, owing to in- 
different roads and in many instances 
the absence of roads, intelligence circu- 
lated tardily between distant sections of 
the State and the United States. The 
City of New York where the sales 
transpired, as we are informed, was (six- 
ty years elapsed,) for the want of speedy 
conveyances, as distant, and even more so, 
in point of time, from the frontier verge 
of the State, than Europe now is. The 
effect then of this short warning to the 
body of the people was what might have 
been unmistakably predicted. It fore- 



28 



HISTORY OF 



closed the applications of distant people 
who desired to purchase for actual set- 
tlement. In the sequel these towns in 
many cases fell naturally, easily and un- 
avoidably into the hands of jobbers and 
wealthy capitalists who were in atten- 
dance upon legislative action, and al- 
ways on the alert for lucrative invest- 
ments. The best parcels of this portion 
of the public property, had no sooner fal- 
len gracefully into the possession of 
extensive patentees, than they advanced 
from the three to four shillings paid the 
State, to twenty shillings per acre on 
sales to small purchasers. 

It is certain, however, that while the 
patentee realized an advance, over first 
cost, from fifteen to seventeen shillings 
the acre, after paying the Surveyor Gen- 
eral and Commissioners and Secretary 
of State their emoluments, the purcha- 
ser enjoj-ed the privilege of selection 
among the most eligible and most fertile 
localities lying Avithin a town. This 
left (undisposed of) refuse acres upon the 
patentee at first unsaleable. But lime 
corrected that ; for the unsaleable patch- 
es at length came to be sold at an ad- 
vance over the first costs to purchasers 
of the select lots by reason of their vi- 
cinity to adjacent settlements. 

It must be apparent to all observers, 
that the accumulation and final attain- 
ment to the greatest wealth in the State 
and Nation, which various citizens have 
amassed at different epochs in the annals 
of the country ; had its small beginnings 
in very nearly every instance, in fortu- 
nate wild land purchases. Such is the 
origin of the Wadsworth, Astor, Van 
Rensselaer, Peter Smith and numerous 
other mammoth fortunes. At or near the 
fountain of the public domain these 
miIlio7iaircs early walled in those incipi- 
ent streams of riches, ever flowing from 
this source ; and which in after years ex- 
panded into full seas of solid gold. But 
the wealth derived from land sales is 
slow and tedious in returns to the adven- 
turer for many years ; the outlay to meet 
taxes oftentimes exceeding the income 
received from buyers. Mr. Wadsworth 
himself once felt," with all his estate he 



was a poor man. The profits spring 
from inflamed prices as settlers break up 
the wilderness and spread the arts 
and conveniences of life around the 
great proprietaries. When this is done 
and it seldom happens until after the 
lapse of considerable space of time, cer- 
tain riches are the consequent. When 
the land sales were advertised the citi- 
zens of Norwich, or some of them em- 
ployed Capt. John Harris a seaman, who 
early came into the country and who was 
a man of energy and enterprise, to set 
out for New York and buy up the land 
contained in the present village plot, al- 
so up and down the valley. He arrived 
too soon and felt impatient at doing noth- 
ing. He engaged to take charge of a 
vessel bound out on a coastwise voyage 
and left an agent behind to bid for the 
farms in case accident should prevent 
his return before the time the sales trans- 
pired. Mr. Cutting was present and ofl- 
ered one penny over the agent, or three 
shillings and seven pence and took the 
land. Mr. C. resold to the principals of 
Capt. Harris for twenty shillings after- 
wards. So we are advised by the cotem- 
poraries of the Captain, 

Soon after this, Mr. Cutting died, and 
while on his death-bed, a few minutes 
before his decease, he conveyed the fif- 
teenth town to Melancthon Smith and 
John Stites of Elizabethtown, New Jer- 
sey, and Smith came on and executed 
contracts to the pioneers. It is said Mr. 
Smith did this as an act of kindness to 
the settlers who must have suffered by 
the death of Mr. Cutting, except for the 
conveyance. But the Power farm was 
bought by him from the State. He had 
reclaimed it before the State Surveyors 
laid out the towns. He paid three shil- 
lings an acre, but adjusted the purchase 
price by boarding and lodging and act- 
ing as laundercr to the surveyors as they 
came through this then wild region. 

To come again to the act of survey 
and Sale of the towns : a book was or- 
dered to be provided by the Surveyor 
General to be placed in his office in 
which was to be recorded the names of 
applicants for purchases, if in Avriting, 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



i9 



and at the end of the three months, if 
there was but one solicitation for the 
same lot, tract or township, a certificate 
of purchase was to he made out and de- 
livered to the bidder as evidence of his 
eventual right to call for a patent. If on 
the contrary more than one bid or appli- 
cation was made for the same lot, tract 
or toAvnship ; in that event the Surveyor 
General was empowered to set up the 
tract so applied for at public sale to be 
struck down at the highest offer ; provi- 
ded the bids or any of them were as high 
as the limitation or minimum price of 
three shillings. If there happened to be 
a competition among purchasers and 
none offered more than the three shillings 
for the same location ; in that case the 
Surveyor General was empowered to 
cast lots to determine which one should 
prevail in the purchase. By another pro- 
vision of the law, every buyer was com- 
pelled to satisf}'-, in addition to the pur- 
chase price, pTo rata charges to defray 
or liquidate the demands of the Survey- 
or General, for time employed and ex- 
penses incurred in perfecting the survey 
of the particular town in which the pur- 
chase happened to be made. The terms 
of payment on sales by the State were 
one-fourth of the purchase money 
down ; the residue or remainder to be 
paid to the Treasurer or Auditor within 
the six months ensuing on pain of a for- 
feiture to the treasury of the land pur- 
chased ; and also of five pounds addi- 
tional to the loss of the land and the pur- 
chase money already paid. When an 
applicant for the towns prevailed, he re- 
ceived from the Surveyor General a cer- 
tificate of purchase, which, when all 
payments were adjusted, entitled him to 
a patent under the great seal of the 
State. The patents were usually filed 
or recorded in the Secretary of State's 
office ; although there is no requirement 
in the act itself enjoining upon the pat- 
entee this formal ceremony. We are 
advised by the County Clerk that the ori- 
ginal patents from the State have been 
in no instance placed upon the county 
records. 

Satisfaction to the Surveyor General 



for his services, was to be made by a ten- 
der to the officer, on obtaining the certifi- 
date of survey and purchase, of either 
gold or silver coin, or a formal transfer 
to him of the same public securities, to 
the amount of his claim, as the State 
was to receive in liquidation for the se- 
lect five towns before mentioned. 

For the fifteen towns remaining, after 
setting off or apart, the five select towns 
from the twenty, the Surveyor General 
was authorized to receive in payment 
for the State, gold or silver coin ; the se- 
curity or public stock already described ; 
and he was also to accept from the pat- 
entee all public stocks at any time issued 
by the Treasurer or Auditor of the State, 
or by the Auditors appointed to liquidate 
and adjust the accoimts of the troops of 
this State in the service of the United 
States. 

In every patent granted by the State 
to the purchaser or purchasers in the 
twenty towns, there is inserted a reser- 
vation clause continuing the property in 
the government to all gold and silver 
mines, that might chance, in all after 
time, to be discovered within the twenty 
districts. This limitation however is 
confined to gold and silver; allowing the 
patentee to enjoy every other species of 
mineral wealth which his purchase 
might happen to contain. Indeed, in our 
times, by a general law of the State, 
this reservation is contained or express- 
ed in all patents granted, or if it is not, 
the law itself, ex vi termini, excepts or 
reserves the right to the people. 

In the year 1790 the State was yet 
suffering in her finances from the ruinous 
drain made to supply its quota of resour- 
ces for maintaining the late revolutiona- 
ry contest. To worry through with em- 
barrassments the local government was 
constrained to make loans, issue scrip or 
stock, or in mercantile phrase, to employ 
its credit. At that day the public secu- 
rities were much below their nominal or 
par value in gold and silver. This cir- 
cumstance enabled the patentees to con- 
summate bids for their parts of the fif- 
teen towns, not reserved, far below the 



:}0 



HISTORY OF 



amount really offered and accepted, and 
in many, if not most instances, very far 
helow the three shillings minimum. 
There cannot be a doubt, but that most 
of the considerable purchasers exchang- 
ed coin for securities, then much under 
their nominal value, and the real value 
of gold and silver, when the securities 
were worth all the time as nmch at the 
land office as the intrinsic price of the 
precious metals. At this day, land agents 
in the young States of the west, buv up 
County and State orders and stocks with 
w^hich they pay taxes at rates much in- 
ferior to the tax assessed. In many 
States these orders and stocks, although 
ever received in payment of dues to the 
several States at the nominal amount, 
are nevertheless generally at an ebb in 
market. The greatest depression usu- 
ally occurs after the fall settlements 
with the collector. Eastern land hold- 
ers usually remit funds or accept drafts 
from their western agents for payment 
of taxes and pay the sum assessed on 
the land ; while the agent employs his 
•own funds to buy up public securities at 
;a discount, which he passes off to the 
•collectors at par, and so charges his prin- 
cipal. There are to this practice, it may 
be remarked, very numerous exceptions. 
The tariff of fees charged by the va- 
rious state officers to purchasers by au- 
thority of this law of 1789 was in con- 
formity to the following scale : to the 
commissioners of the land office, for pat- 
enting a township, the buyer paid the 
sum of three pounds : for patenting the 
half of a township or any number of 
acres exceeding half, but less than a 
town ; the sum of two pounds : for eve- 
ry parcel or tract less than the half of a 
township ; one pound : if only a single 
lot of two hundred and fifty acres was 
bought ; eight shillings was paid the 
Commissioners. In all of these instan- 
ces the Secretary of State, who was, ex- 
officio, private secretary or clerk to the 
board of Commissioners, and who had to 
perform a large share of the labor of this 
body and also superintend the details 
and minutiae of the sales and transfers ; 
to this official pcrsonngo was allowed the 



same charges as were permitted to the 
others collectively. 

The Commissioners of the land office 
were composed in 1786 of the Governor 
of the State — the Lieutenant Gover- 
nor — the Speaker of the Assembly— 
the Secretary of State — the Attorney 
General — the Treasurer and Auditor. 
Any two of the above if attended by the 
Governor, constituted a board and could 
make sales of the lands belonging to the 
State. In the year 1788, the legislature 
by act fixed the dimensions of land meas- 
ure, as follows : An acre must contain 
160 square perches or rods ; each perch 
or rod to be 5 1-2 yards in length ; each 
yard to be 3 feet ; each foot to be 12 in- 
ches ; so that when an acre of land was 
16 rods in length, it must be 10 rods in 
breadth. 

By another clause in this law of ] 789, 
the territory sold was to be exempt from 
all taxes for the space of seven years 
from the date of the patent. After this 
period it was to contribute to the support 
of government, both local and state. 

This brings us to the close of the ab- 
stract of the law, authorizing the survey 
and sale of the entire northern section 
of the county, except what is contained 
in the town of Lincklaen, in the gore. 
The surveyors first ran out the county 
into townships ; the next division was 
made by the quartering lines ; dividing 
the straight townships into " four equal 
sections," at present called " quarters,'''' 
each numbering from one to four. Dif- 
ferent parts of the same towns are fre- 
quently called at this day by the last ap- 
pellation. Norwich has some territory, 
best known to the citizens by the style of 
"north," and "south east quarters." The 
same in Sherburne and other towns. Af- 
ter the quarters, came the lines 50 chains 
apart running with the four main points 
of the compass and bounding the 250 
acre lots. To many the foregoing de- 
tails will, we fear, prove dry and unen- 
tertaining. But it was the request of 
the elder residents, that the twenty towns, 
or so much of them as formed the an- 
cient landmarks of the county, should 
be deliberately and succinctly explained. 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



31 



We have endeavored, but so far in 
vain, to ascertain the precise time the 
Surveyor General, Mr. DeWitt, located 
the towns in this County. We are giv- 
en to understand by some of the earlier 
settlers that the surveys were continued 
for more than one year before their final 
completion We think they must have 
been finished in the fall of 17S9, or very 
early in 1790. Probably in the latter 
year. The act authorizing them was pass- 
ed in the winter of 1789 and the Engi- 
neer Corps no doubt commenced explo- 
rations some time in the spring ensuing. 
The most information we have to lay 
before the public at this particular mo- 
ment is the certificates of siirrty^ made 
out to purchasers after sale by the State: 
the date of the one first delivered is No- 
vember 2d. 1792. The first patent was 
granted on the 29th December of the 
same year ; it Avas made out to Mr. 
Leonard M. Cutting and called for the 
fifteenth tOAvn, or parts of Norwich and 
New Berlin. The second certificate 
bears date 3d November in the same year 
and covered a portion of the fourteenth 
town. The purchase of the west part 
of the township now Preston was made 
November 3d. 1792, by Melancthon 
Smith and Marinus Willett ; no patent 
can be found at Albany running to these 
men. The number of acres purchased, 
were 7049. Mr. Cutting purchased the 
east part of the same town including 
Norwich in part and perhaps a part of 
Preston. Mr. Cutting's purchase was 
November ninth in the last mentioned 
year. On the same day Mr. Cutting al- 
so bought the eleventh town, or Plym- 
outh. He received a patent for the tvi'o 
purchases January 1st., and June 2Sth 
1793. The seventh town, now Olselic, 
was bought bv Robert C. Livingston on 
the 12th' January 1793, and on the 31st 
of the same month his patent was issued. 
William S. Smith purchased the eighth 
town now Smyrna, also the ninth, or 
Sherburne ; his certificate was made 
out April 6th 1793; patent issued 16th 
April, in the next year. The tenth town, 
now North Norwich, and a part of New 
Berlin, was taken up by James Tal- 



madge and Ezra Thompson, both sup- 
posed to be residents of Dutchess coun- 
ty. No date to this patent. Thomas 
Ludlow and Josiah Shippey, purchased 
the thirteenth town, now McDonough ; 
the certificate issued February 6th 1793. 
No patent found. White Matlach and 
j Jacob Hallett bought town twelve, or 
Pharsalia, on the ^ 6th of April 1793. 
No patent discovered among the archives. 
The sixteenth town, or part of New Ber- 
lin and the seventeenth, or Columbus, 
bought by John Taylor February 2d 
1793. Patent issued 14th of the same 
month 1797. 

Out of the County, the remaining nine 
towns Avere bought up in the same man- 
ner. Webster, Savage and Williams, 
took the first town, or Nelson. William 
S. Smith the second, comprising Eaton, 
also the third, Madison ; also the fourth, 
Hamilton ; and also the fifth, Lebanon. 
Ludlow & Shippey bought number six, 
or Georgetown. Myers, Sanger & Mor- 
gan, purchased number twenty, now 
Sangersfield and part of Bridgewater. 
They also bought eighteen and nineteen, 
or Brookfield. The largest private pur- 
chaser was William S. Smith who 
bought upon his own account, or in trust 
for others, no less than six townships. 

It now appears who were the first pri- 
vate owners of the twenty towns. For 
this the public are indebted, as well as- 
for other valuable suggestions, concer- 
ning the twenty towns, to the politeness 
of the Hon. Samuel S. Randall of Al- 
bany, upon whose time and patience the 
writer has made many considerable 
drafts, every one of which, we are happy 
to announce, has been promptly and 
cheerfully honored. Chenango County 
contains, numerically speaking, twenty 
towns ; but after this they will not be 
apt to be mistaken for the far-famed ori- 
ginal twenty towns comprising the 
" Governors Purchase." It is true Che- 
nango once did contain all of the origi- 
nal towns ; but legislative action has cur- 
tailed it of its former fair proportions. 

The County v»'as once almost as large as 
the State of Delaware, but is so no lon- 
ger. So also with Norwich, Once that 



32 



HISTORY OF 



town boasted as within its limits, the 
sixteenth, thirteenth, tenth, twelfth, elev- 
enth, I'oiivteenth and fifteenth towns. 
Now the most distant boundaries of the 
town are nearly within cannon shot of 
each other. We will here correct an 
omission ; we put down the twentieth 
town as Sangersfield. In 1797 it was 
divided and part set off to Bridgewater. 

According to the act authorizing the 
establishment of the towns, as we have 
seen there were gospel and school lots. 
These were afterwards ruthlessly sold for 
the benefit of the State. Such plunder on 
the part of the authorities at Albany, 
was not for a moment acquiesced in by 
the intelligent and religious immigrants 
from New England, who had taken up 
farms within the towns. They remon- 
strated with the government, insisting 
but for Schools and Churches, not a soul 
had purchased. The law-making-pow- 
er was pressed too strenuously to resist ; 
in compliance Avith justice and the de- 
mands made, in the year 1805, the le- 
gislature appropriated out of the West- 
ern Land District for these purposes for- 
ty lots, of two hundred and fifty acres 
each or ten thousand acres in gross. 
These lots were set apart in a body, but 
where or what was the final disposition 
made of them, we are not advised. The 
forty lots corresponded in number and 
quantity of acres in each, to those set 
apart originally. 

We now take final leave of the twen- 
ty towns. Dropping below these, we 
come next to Southern Chenango. For 
the information which we have relative 
to this portion of the county we are 
exclusively indebted to the attention of 
Mr. E. B.McCall of Oxford, who has 
sent us a sketch, which we adopt bod- 
ily, as elucidating the history of this 
part of the County better than any 
thing from our pen. 

LAND TITLES IN SOUTHERN 
CHENANGO. 

" The description of the boundaries 
of the original townships, patents and 
grants of land comprehended within 
that part of the County of Chenango, 



situated south of the south bounds of 
the "Military tract ;" the south bounds 
of the Brakle township and the south 
bounds of the twenty townships called 
the Governors Purchase may be com- 
prehended in the following brief synop- 
sis : 

'■'■First, ihe tract of land called " the 
gore, "is bounded on the north by the 
south bounds of township fourteen in 
tha Governors Purchase ; on the south 
east by the Chenango river and on the 
west by the Chenango triangle, and ac- 
cording to public report, was granted 
originally by the State of New York, 
to Melancthon Smiihand Marinus Wil- 
lett and is now known as the Smith & 
Willett Patent south of Preston. This 
tract was subdivided by these patent- 
ees into 69 lots of about 100 acres each. 
The tract is situated in the north west 
part of the town of Oxford. 

'■^Second, The tract of land called "the 
township of Fayette," is a part of a 
tract of land purchased by the State of 
New York of the Oneida and Tuscaro- 
ra Indians in the year 1785 (already 
referred to,) and in the survey of that 
purchase into townships, soon after the 
sale by tiie savages, stands as number 
four and is bounded on the north by 
the south bounds of the Governor's Pur- 
chase ; easterly by the Tianaderha or 
Unadilla river; on the south by the 
township of Clinton ; on the west by 
the township of Greene, and on the 
north west by the Chenango river. This 
township was originally subdivided into 
100 lots of about 640 acres each, as near 
as circumstances would admit, and pat- 
ented by the State to various individual 
purchasers. This township now compri- 
ses the town of Guilford, the south east- 
wardly part of Oxford and a small por- 
tion of the north eastwardly part of 
Coventry. 

" Third, The tract of land called the 
township of Clinton, which stands on 
the township division list number two, 
is bounded on the north by the town- 
ship of Fayette ; on the east by the line 
of properly, so called, surveyed, mark- 
ed and defined bv one Simeon Metcalf, 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



33 



in the year 1769, by beginning at the 
junction of the Tianadeiha river with 
the Susquehanna, and running from 
thence south, nine degrees we^^t seven- 
teen and a quarter miles to the Dela 
ware river.; on the souih by the town- 
ship of Warren which is number one ; 
and on the west by the townsliip of 
Greene. This township was originally 
subdivided into 100 lots intended to be 
640 acres, or a mile square, each. A 
tract from the north west part of this 
township containing 16,000 acres was 
granted to Robert Harper, Esq., by let- 
ters patent from the State under date 
January 4th 17S7. By him it was re- 
divided into loib of from 1,000 to 2.000 
acres each and resold to various private 
purchasers. That part of the town- 
ship of Clinton known as the Harper 
patent, constituted the east part of the 
, town of Coventry. The residue of the 
i township of Clinton is included in and 
constitutes the town of Bainbridge and 
was in part appropriated for the relief 
of a class of citizens, numbering about 
I one hundred and forty-eight, hen known 
i to the world by the style or designation 
; *' Vermont Sufferers," by virtue of an 
act passed May 5th 1786, and an act 
amendatory of this act passed March 
20th 178S: 

" Fourth, The tract of land called 
I the " Township of Greene,'' stands 
I number three on the list of townships, 
and is bounded on the east by the town- 
! ship of Clinton; on the south by the 
; township known as Jay & Rutherfords 
1 tract ; and on the west and northwest 
by the Chenango river, and appears to 
have been originally subdivided on pa- 
per in the Secretary's office at Albany 
if not on the field, into lots of 640 acres 
each. From the east side of this town- 
ship, a tract of land embracing 16,138 
acres was granted by ihe State of New 
York to Walter Livingston, Esq. by let- 
ters patent dated 1783, nnd Mr. Living- 
ston subdivided into 152 lots of about 106 
acres each according to the field bookjj 
of Rickitson Burlingame, surveyor ofii 
the tract. A portion of this tract con-jj 
stitutesthe west part of the town of Cov-|! 



entry ; a portion also lies in the town of 
Oxford, and the residue in Greene. 

'■The residue of the township of 
Greene embracing 15,835 acres, was 
granted to Maiachi Treat and William 
W. Morris, uniler letters Patent from 
the State in the year 1787 or 8 and 
called by them the "French Tract," 
and was subsequently by their agent 
Charles Buloign, with the assistance of 
Capt. John Harri.s, a surveyor, subdivi- 
ded into about 150 lots of various sizes 
exclusive of the '' French village Plot," 
situated on the east side of the Che- 
nango river at the village of Greene. 
From the field books, this last subdivis- 
ion appears to have been made in the 
year 1792 and was resurveyed by Will- 
iam McAlpin Esq. in the vear 1807. 
This patent lies within the town of 
Greene. 

"Fifth, The tract of country called 
" the Chenango Triangle," is bounded 
on the north by the Military tract, the 
Brakle tract and thirteenth town in tha 
Governors Purchase; on the east by 
the Gore ; on the south east by the Che- 
nango river and on the souih west by 
the Tioughnioga or Onondaga river; 
this tract is believed to have been gran- 
ted by the State of New York to one 
William Hornby of Great Britain and 
by him or his employee Justin B. Smith 
subdivided into four townships, begin- 
ning with number one on the Tiough- 
nioga river at the north w^est corner of 
the tract and continuing with towns num- 
bers two and three across the north end 
and finishing with number four extend- 
ing from a little above the vilage of 

■Greene down to the Chenango Forks 
and up the Tioughnioga river to the 
South line of township number one. 
The townships were again subdivided 
into lots of various sizes according to 
circumstances. Townships number one 
and parts of two and four are now in- 

I eluded within the county of Broome. 
A part of numbers two and three con- 
stitute the town of Smithville. The 
residue of number three is a part with- 
in the limits of the town of Oxford and 
a part in the town of Green©. The re- 



34 



HISTORY OF 



mainderof two and four lying in the I 
county are located within the limits of 
the town of Greene. The lands of the 
triangle have been managed by Mr. 
Hornby's agents, the principal one re- 
siding at Canandaigua has grown into 
a princely fortune by his agencies for 
foreign landlords. 

We have now accounted for the sale 
of every portion of the county, except- 
ing the towns of German, Lincklaen 
and Pitcher, covering that part of the 
Gore within the county. We cannot 
particularize the year when this part of 
Chenango was sold to patentees by the 
State. It was after the sale of the 
twenty towns ; probably about 1795. 
Part of the Gore was originally appro- 
priated by the State to build roads. The 
rest was bought by patentees, as ap- 
pears by Winterbotham's Atlas, pub- 
lished in 1796. Sackett &: Co. bought 
part, and also Waikins and Flint. 

By reference to the patents and their 
dates, it appears the Harper patent is 
the oldest in the county. The south 
part of the county was settled before 
the north, by several years. 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE 
COUNTY. 

Having given a full account of the 
Governor's Purchase, we next proceed 
to a general description of the County 
itself. Before entering upon details, 
it will not be inappropriate to copy so 
much of the act of March 15th 1798, 
as called the county, as it originally 
stood, into existence. Oneida County 
was organized from Herkimer by the 
same act. Tlie " Historical Collections 
of New York," inform ihe public, that 
Oneida was organized nine years ear- 
lier. This is but one of the many er- 
rors we have already detected in this 
work, as well as in the Revised Stat- 
utes, where the two works treat upon 
the organization of Counties and 
towns. How dates could have been so 
misapprehended, we are at a loss to 
conjecture. We are victim to the erro- 
neous dates in the statutes in a few in- 
stances, which mistakes will be correc- 



ted, when the proper opportunity offers. 
Boundaries. — 'Ihe ojiginal bounda- 
ries of the county, according to the act 
of 1798. were as follows : 

"All that part of the counties of Her- 
kimer and Tioga, included within the 
following bounds, to wit, beginning at 
the southeast corner of Onondaga, 
thence a direct course to the confluence 
of the Tioughnioga and Chenango riv- 
ers, thence up the last mentioned river 
to the northwest corner of a tract of 
land granted to John Jay and others, 
thence along the North bounds thereof, 
and the same line continued until it 
meets the west line of Clinton town- 
ship, thence along the same, south to 
the most northwesterly corner of the 
town of Warren, thence easterly on the 
division line between the said townships 
of Clinton and Warren, to the line of 
property, thence northerly along the 
west bounds of the counties of Dela- 
ware and Otsego, to the town of Bridge- 
Avater, in Herkimer County, thence on 
the southerly and westerly line thereof 
to the north bounds of the Twenty 
Towns, so called, thence along the same 
westerly to the southwest corner of lot 
No. 50, in the first allotment of a tract 
of land called New-Petersborough, 
thence Northerly on the west line of 
said lot No. 50 and 69, to the south 
liLe of New-Stockbridge, thence the 
shortest line to the main branch of the 
Oneida creek, thence northerly down 
said creek to the Oneida Lake, thence 
westerly along the southerly shore of 
the Oneida lake to the county of Onon- 
daga, thence southerly along the said 
county of Onondaga to the place of be- 
ginning." 

The territory included within the 
above boundaries was declared by the 
act, to be a separate county, by the 
name of Chenango. 

The present boundaries of the coun- 
ty as established by law are as follows ; 
"Beghining at the ooutheast corner of 
toAvnship number eighteen of the twen- 
ty townships, and running thence west- 
erly along the south bounds thereof, to 
the east bounds of township number 




JOHN JAY 

Y\TrA- CJlief J-n:-;Uc. 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



^i^ 



nine ; then northerly along the same, to 
the southeast corner of township num- 
"ber four ; then along the south bounds 
of township number four, five, and six, 
and the same continued to the mililary 
tract ; then southerly along the east 
bounds of the military tract, to the 
southeast corner thereof; then with a 
i straight line to the confluence of the 
Tioughnioga and Chenango rivers, and 
to the east bank of the last mentioned 
river ; then up said river along the 
eastern bank thereof, to the northwest 
■corner of a tract granted to John Jay 
and John Rutherford ; then along the 
north bounds thereof, and the same line 
continued, until it meets the west line 
of the township called Clinton, in a map 
made by the surveyor-genera! of this 
State ; then southerly along the same 
to the southwest corner thereof; then 
east along the south bounds thereof, to 
the county of Delaware ; then norther- 
ly along the counties of Delaware and 
Otsego, to the place of beginning." 

Topography.— In the year 1823, or 
twenty seven years ago, the "Oxford Ga- 
zette" printed a series of articles, rela- 
ing to the county. At the time of com- 
mencing the history we were not aware 
of the publications in 1823. They did 
not give much particular information, 
and did not at all contain any account of 
the first settlements, nor of the early pi- 
oneers. For a file of the Gazette con- 
taining these sketches we are under ob- 
ligations to the Hon. John Tracy. We 
extract a very graphic delineation of the 
county itself in order that the reader 
may compare the past v/ith the present. 
The editor of the Gazette discontinued 
because of the exceeding great difficulty 
experienced in obtaining the requisite 
historical matter from the various towns. 
It is to be regretted the enterprise of the 
Oxford publisher was not better patron- 
ized ; since a full history completed at 
that time would be of great interest 
now. The writer in an able manner 
says : 

"The principal part of the county lies 
in the region of what is called the grand 



Alleghany ridge of mountains; its sur- 
face is therefore elevated and hilly; the 
hills run generally in a northeasterly 
and southwesterly direction and are sep- 
erated by vallies of moderate width. — 
The Susquehannah river runs across the 
southeast corner of the county, and 
opens a wide and beautiful valley of in- 
tervale land of a superior quality, ex- 
tending from the southeast line of the 
county, to the mouth of the Una- 
dilla river, winding a distance of 
about fourteen miles. The hills on 
the sides of the river are precipitous and 
lofty, approaching almost to the charac- 
ter of mountains ; and formerly were 
thickly covered with the towering and 
majesdc white-pine, so justly styled the 
pride of the Am.erican forest. This val- 
ley with a slight interruption, contin- 
ues up the Unadilla river to the north 
line of the county, presenting a tract of 
uncommonly fine and fertile land, par- 
ticularly adapted to the cultivation of 
grain. It is of various width, expand- 
ing towards the west as you proceed up 
the river. 

"At the distance of a few miles west 
of this valley lie the elevated towns of 
Coventry, Guilford, the eastern section 
of Greene, Oxford, Norwich, Sherburne, 
the eastern parts of New Berlin and 
Columbus. The soil of this range of 
highlands is loam, intermixed with 
gravel, stony, and hard to till, but is ex- 
ceedingly fertile in grain and grass, and 
richly rewards the ploughman and gra- 
zier. The forest trees are beach, ma- 
ple, birch, ash, elm, linden, chesnut, 
oak, poplar, tulip, hemlock, with less 
pines than is found on the hills near the 
river. 

"West of this range of hills opens 
the charming valley of Chenango, form- 
ed by the river and its numerous branch- 
es. This river having at its source an 
east and west branch uniting at Sher- 
burne, rises in Madison county, near the 
head waters of the Oriskany and Onei- 
da Creeks and pursuing a southwesterly 
direction winds through the whole ex- 
tent of Madison and Chenango Coun- 
ties, part of the county of Broome and 



36 



HISTORY OF 



falls into the Susquehannah at Bing- 
hampton or Chenango Point. This 
delightful valley for the beauty of its 
winding stream, its richly fringed mar- 
gin of highly cultivated fields, its gentle 
and graceful slopes, its easy and varied 
acclivity, its picturesque landscapes, 
mellowed with all the variegated hues of 
verdure and felicity, is scarcely surpas- 
sed by any section of the United States. 
In this far reaching valley are situated 
the pleasant and flourishing villages of 
Binghamton in Broome county ; Greene, 
Oxford, Norwich and Sherburne in Che- 
nango county ; also Hamilton in Madi- 
son county. 

"Beyond this valley to the westward, 
commences another and yet higher range 
of most excellent farming lands. No 
better grazing lands can be found in any 
region in the same latitude than are con- 
tained in the towns of Smithville, Pres- 
ton, Plymouth, Smyrna, McDonouq-h, 
and Pharsalia. This is abundantly 
proved by the numerous heads of fine 
cattle, and the flocks of sheep that are 
every year driven from these towns to 
our different markets. The degrees of 
comfort, independence and wealth which 
are hence derived to the farmers of these 
towns, are facts that speak for them- 
selves, and are the best evidence of in- 
dustry and the excellence of the soil. 
The "forest trees of this range are simi- 
lar to those east of the valley of the Che- 
nango, on the Guilford range. 

" The towns of Pharsalia, Otselic and 
German are principally watered by the 
Otselic river and its numerous branches. 
This stream runs through the northwest 
corner of the county and falls into the 
Tioughnioga river, in the town of Lisle, 
in Broome county. The lands on the 
Otselic and its branches, are of a supe- 
rior quality, better adapted to the culti- 
vation of grain, than the Preston range. 
The timber in this locality is the same I; 
as that already described. 

" The Avhole surface of Chenango is i 
beautified and enriched with innumerable j| 
springs, brooks and rivulets of the pu- j 
rest water, affording desirable sites for j 
mills of almost any power or description ; || 



and the saw-mills have heretofore pro* 
duced immense quantities of lumber for 
Baltimore, Philadelphia and other south- 
ern markets, 

" Small lakes or ponds, of transparent, 
healthy Avater, have been found in al- 
most every town in the county, but the 
number is not precisely known. These, 
together with the different streams, are 
plentifully stored with fish. In no case 
have these waters been known to render 
the climate unhealthy. 

" The kinds of grain most extensively- 
cultivated are wheat, rye, Indian corn, 
barley, oats and flax. Potatoes and the 
various garden vegetables and melons, 
common to the climate, thrive well. 

" Of fruits, apples both of the com- 
mon and superior sorts are, in most sea- 
sons, abundant. The valley of the Che- 
nango, particularly in the middle and 
northern sections, appears extremely fa- 
vourable to the plum ; and abundance of 
the most delicious and fine flavoured are 
produced almost every year. Grapes 
grow spontaneously in the field, and the 
finest exotics are cultivated in gardens. 

" The principal sources of wealth to 
the farmers are neat stock, wool and the 
dairy. A large supply of maple sugar, 
is manufactured every year; and for a 
few years past, immense quantities of 
what are called "Black Salts," produced 
from the lixivium of ashes, have been 
made into Pot and Pearl Ash for foreign 
markets." 

The main streams in the county, or 
abutting upon the borders of the Countv, 
are the Unadilla, the Tianadcrha below 
the confluence of Butternut creek, (some- 
times called the Unadilla,) the Susque- 
hannah, the Chenango and the Gene- 
ganslet rivers. The chief creeks are 
the Otselic, the Canasawacta and the 
Brakle. The Susquehannah crosses the 
southeastern corner of the county. The 
Chenango river, one of the principal 
branches of the Susquehannah, flows 
southerly through the centre of the coun- 
ty. The Unadilla River, also a consid- 
erable branch of the Susquehanna, forms 
most of the eastern bounds of the coun- 
ty. The Geneganslet, Canasawacta and 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



37 



Otselic streams have rapid currents aflbr- 
ding abundance of eligible mill sites. 

The Geneganslet flows nearly south. 
The Canasawacta creek, rising in the 
hills of Pharsalia and fed by streams 
having their source in Smyrna and Ot- 
selic, flows abruptly south easterly, until 
it falls into the Chenango river near the 
•centre of the county. 

The main water courses in the coun- 
ty and those bounding the county, flow 
from north east to south west, more par- 
ticularly so the Chenango river ; this 
stream striking the county near its north 
east bounds flows obliquely to the south- 
west corner of Greene, from whence it 
bears out beyond the west line of the 
<:ounty. 

These frequent streams are curtained 
■With a succession of high hills or banks, 
winding as the waters wind. The great- 
est altitude of the hills between rivers is 
from tvv'o to four hundred feet. Along 

» the banks of the main streams the coun- 
try is flat, sometimes undulating, for a 
space, when the eminences rise gently, 
■occasionally abruptly. The same range 
of hills, whether rising gently or abrupt- 
ly, almost always attain a uniform 
heighth. When they rise abruptly, they 
€nd in peaks, which appear to be, but in 
reality are not, alDove the most elevated 
table lands of the same group. 

The uplands of the County, running 

i from northeast to southwest are intersec- 
ted at short intervals by diminutive 

I streams of pure, cold water, coursing at 

': light angles, or nearly so, with the lar- 
ger ones. These cut through the high- 

j lands narrow gorges Avith steep banks, 
until they approach the main valleys, 
when the country flattens out into spa- 

; cious plains. The streams are mostly 
known as the " mountain brook."' The 
soft water of the brook bursts out from 
the hill-sides far back from the rivers. 

The current leaps impetuously over 
steep and pebbly, often rocky, beds, un- 
til checked in its rapid career by the 
fiat lands below. On the banks of these 
streamlets stand the hemlock, the pine 
and the evergreen ; another growth of 



beech, maple, elm, sassafras and wild- 
cherry contrast agreeably with these. 

The different growths intertwine bran- 
ches and so mingle foliage in summer 
as to exclude from the waters the pene- 
trating rays of a vertical sun. In these 
shaded glens is domiciled the spotted 
trout-, about the only tenant of the soli- 
tude. 

The uplands of the county for the 
most part are easy of access to the 
plough-man, the grazier and his herds. 
The apex of the hills spread out into lev- 
els extending often as far as the width 
of the river valleys, 'i'hese passed over, 
the reverse side of the eminences de- 
scend much as their opposite arose. 
There is in reality but one grand ascent 
of country between rivers and it lies 
at a point nearly equi-distant between 
the large streams. Along the slopes of 
the high grounds, parallel with the riv- 
ers, flow occasional brooks with high 
banks much after the manner of the riv- 
ers. The banks form a series of ridges 
along the highlands, causing the roads 
across country to be uneven and heavy 
to travel. When the traveller overcomes 
the high range of uplands, he often be- 
holds (lying east and west at his feet,) 
I two river valleys. This frequently takes 
I place on the high grounds separating the 
] Chenango and Unadilla rivers. The 
same occurs at several points between 
the Chenango valley and the Tioughni- 
oga or Onondaga river floAving through 
Cortland county. The hills west of the 
I Chenango valley are, it may be observed, 
miuch controlled or modified, and their 
direction is greatly disturbed by the Can- 
asawacta and Otselic creeks. 

We have not learned where the pre- 
cise summit level or highest altitude of 
the group of hills west of the Chenango 
valley and cast of the Onondaga is to be 
found. In passing from the County seat 
to Corilnnd village, after ascending the 
countiy for some eight miles, the valley 
of the Onondaga or Tioughnioga opens 
I up to the view and is obvious to the na- 
ked eye. We give it as our opinion, al- 
though we confess to speak without much 
light upon the subject, that this is the 



HISTOKY OF 



highest part of Chenango. Standing 
upon this eminence we look upon the 
range of hills and valleys stretching to 
the we*t, and out of the county, until 
the upper country finally escapes the vis- 
ion behind the horizon. Turning to the 
east the eye rests upon the group of up- 
lands lying beyond the Chenango river. 

The soil of the uplands of the coun- 
ty rests either upon rocky beds or upon 
a substratum of hard earth impervious 
to water and the plough, v/henever it 
chances to show itself above the surface 
of the earth. 

The most natural production of the 
uplands is grass, which grows spontane- 
ously. Of late years the land is found 
to be essentially aided by the applica- 
tion of plaster paris. The grass of the 
hills grows less rank and luxuriant than 
in the valleys, but the hill crop is far 
■sweeter, more nutritive and substantial. 
Vegetation on the hills is delayed in 
the spring beyond the valleys by the 
longer tarry the snow makes upon the 
uplands. But when the sun at length 
breaks warmly upon the hills, vegetation 
seems to take as rapid start as in the 
valley. 

When the sun exerts its influence up- 
on the hills, they speedily throw offtheir 
winter dress and put on a rich embroid- 
ery of herbage, and continue to Avear it 
until late in autumn. 

The soil of the valleys is open, po- 
rous and intermixed with gravel in pla- 
ces. It has not the substratum or "hard 
f)an" that prevents the hill lands from 
eaching. Owing to this cause it does 
not retain manure so permanently as the 
highlands, but requires more frequent 
replenishing. In numerous localities the 
vernal and autumnal flow of the rivers, 
fertilizes the otherwise jaded mold of the 
plains. 

The face of the country may be said 
to bear a miniature resemblance to that 
ridge of the AUeghanies lying in the 
State of Virginia. The peaks in that 
State are certainly more formidable far 
more abrupt and incomparably more in 
the distance. So distant indeed are ma- 
ny of them OS to be faintly seen through 



our strongest telescopes. Standing up- 
on the more elevated parts of the Che- 
nango hills, at the rising or setting of 
the sun, when the heavens are clear, the | 
spectator will look ofl' upon the same 
wild grouping and grand assemblage of 
distant uplands ; the same gauze cover- 
ing of dim haze ; the same magic tinge 
of sombre blue that forever reposes upon 
the most elevated mountain tops in Vir- 
ginia. Preceding the thunder storm, the 
hills in this county wear all the various 
hues sometimes observed upon the Cats- 
kill mountains, when the sky is overcast. 
Unlike the Catskills, however, clouds do 
not float around the high peaks of the 
County without rising over them ; nor 
does the tempest drive at the base of the 
hills, while their heads are visited by 
a serene sky accompanied with brilliant 
sunshine. 

Geographically speaking, the county 
is situated between 42 degrees, 12 min- 
utes and 42 degrees and 44 minutes 
north latitude, and 1 degree 02 minutes 
and 1 degree 36 minutes east longitude 
from the city of Washington, and some- 
thing over one hundred miles from the 
Capitol of the State. 

The Chenango valley is midway the 
county, about 160 feet below the summit 
level of the river in Madison county and 
546 feet above the canal level in the city 
of Utica. The county contains, accor- 
ding to the State Map, 804 square miles 
and an area of 514,800acres of soil. 

Geology. — When the history was un- 
dertaken we promised some information 
appertaining to the Geological Structure 
of the County. Geology like Chemis- 
try is yet comparatively in its youth. 
But as it has the solid basis of truth to 
rest upon, it is destined to spread among 
men and unfold to a demonstrable cer- 
tainty, the hidden sources and inmost 
secrets of the whole habitable world. 
The great patron of this science, Baron 
Cuvier, a German, has led us nearly as 
far below, as Newton did above the sur- 
face of the earth. 

In contemplating the theories and 
speculations of Cuvier, there is perhaps 
as much to enlarge the understanding: 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



39 



and inflame the imagination as in the 
astronomical pursuits of Newton. The 
eye, a powerful source of the imagina- 
tion, is not in Geology as in Astronomy, 
travelled so far as the " solar walks and 
milky way ;" but the minds-eye view- 
ing the arcana of the Planet which we 
inhabit, is as much surprised and even 
more confounded by the teachings of ge- 
ology than with the sublimities of As- 
tronomy. 

Geology is defined in the Encyclope- 
dia Americana as the doctrine or science 
of the structure of the earth or terraque- 
ous globe, and of the substances which 
compose it ; or the science of the com- 
pound minerals or aggregate substances 
which compose the earth, the relations 
which the several constituent masses 
bear to each other, their formation, 
structure, position and direction." 

We prefer a more concise definition. 
We would denominate it a science which 
teaches the component substances of the 
terraqueous globe. 

In the year 1842 a geological survey 
of the State was made, and a descrip- 
tion of this County with others, by Lard- 
ner Vanuxem, published by order of the 
Legislature, is now before us. We 
shall copy into the history so much of the 
description as may tend to illustrate our 
subject in this particular. When the 
Geologist visited Chenango there was 
no guide to point out the different local- 
ities and he was forced to examine per- 
sonally. This rendered his account 
much more brief than in counties where 
scientific citizens had made prior explo- 
rations. 

"The lowest rocks of the County are 
those belonging to the Hamilton group, 
(named after Hamilton, in Madison co). 
It contains the Tully limestone, the Gen- 
esee slate, the Portage, the Ithaca, the 
Chemung and the Catskill groups. 
• " The whole of the Hamilton group 
is confined to the towns of Sherburne 
Smyrna, and to a strip extending along 
the Unadilla river through Columbus and 
New Berlin, below the village of which 
it passes under the higher rocks. It is 
well exposed along Handsome brook, to 



the north east of Sherburne village, ex- 
hibiting a mass from sixty to one hun- 
dred feet thick, chiefly of the dark-col- 
ored shale of the group, and abounding 
in its characteristic fossils. The falls in 
the creek are over the shale, which ex- 
tends towards the mouth of the creek, 
and is soon lost under a covering of al- 
luvion and soil, being the most southern 
part of the Chenango valley where seen. 

" The same mass makes its appear- 
ance to the east of the village of Smyr- 
na ; beyond which, at a lower level, are 
those of the upper rocks of Hamilton 
Seminary, and of Ladd's quarry on the 
Canal above Sherburne. 

"The ridge from Madison county, com- 
posed of the Hamilton group, appears to 
incline rapidly near Sherburne, so as to 
admit the Sherburne flags to appear at 
the level which they present, at less than 
two miles below the village. 

"At North New Berlin, the group is 
exposed in the sides of the creek ; and 
at the quarry, and mill-dam back of the 
village, on the road to Chenango valley. 
The fossils are numerous, and the same 
in all respects with those in the creek 
near Sherburne. 

"The Tulhj lime stone was seen but in 
one locality at the northwestern part of 
Smyrna, on the road to DeRuyter village 
where the road crosses the west branch 
of the Chenango. 

" Genesee slate. — But little was seen 
in the county : it does not form the same 
well defined rock to the east, which it 
does to the west. It appears along the 
same road as the Tully limestone, and 
at North New Berlin,&c. 

'■'^ Portage and Ithaca groups. — These 
groups appear to be the surface rocks of 
the town of Lincklaen ; of the west parts 
of Pitcher and German ; of Otselic ; the 
northern part of Pharsalia ; all those 
parts of Smyrna, Sherburne and Colum- 
bus not occupied by the lower rocks ; all 
but the south west part of Plymouth ; the 
northern and west portion of North Nor- 
wich, the group extending on both sides 
of the Chenango below the village of Ox- 
ford ; and the east side of the town of 
New Berlin, with the exception of those 



40 



HISTORY OF 



parts towards the river, where the rocks j 
of the Hamilton group hold position. j 

" N'jmerous quarries are opened in j 
all the different towns in this group, for 
building-stones and for flagging. The I 
better kind of the latter occurs in the | 
lower part of the group. The first year j 
of the survey, several points south of 
Sherburne were examined, among which 
was Mr. Skinner's quarry, where the 
flags were large and smooth, but the 
quantity of shale and slate upon them 
was considerable. At Church's quarry, 
about two miles from the village, they 
were more accessible, but not so good. 
The opening here is about twenty feet 
in depth upon a hill-side, rising about 
forty feet above the valley, and showing 
dark blue or blackish slaty shale with 
the sandstone. The same appear in the 
quarrv at the back of North New Ber- 
lin village, showing the graphic fucoids 
of Cavuga lake, Ithica, &c. 

" West of North Norwich, in the high- 
er parts of the group, is the quarry of | 
Mr. Harris, opened for the Chenango 
Canal. The Stone is of fair quality for 
the group, generally. Fossils are some- 
what numerous, and it is the second best 
locality of the curtain fucoid. 

"At Norwich, the County town, ma- i 
ny quarries have been opened in the hill i 
to the west of the village and elsev/here: 
the stone is inferior in quality to that of 
the upper group. 

** Chemung group. — With the excep- 
tion of the town of Greene, this group 
is rather obscure in the County. But lit- 
tle was positively recognized in the Che- 
nango valley to the north of that town ; 
although from its great thickness south 
and west, it should there appear ; but it 
is also possible that it terminates short 
of the north line of the Catskill group, 
which may extend beyond it as at One- 
onta, where no part of it was recogniz- 
ed and where the Catskill group ap- 
pears to repose immediately upon the 
Portage and Ithaca groups, or a mass 
which corresponds with the side-hill 
quarries at Norwich and Port Crane, and 
which by the fossil character are refera- 
We only to those groups. 



" The consequence of the Catskill 
group overlapping the Chemung group- 
to the northeast of its range in "the dis- 
, trict, was not sufficiently attended to ; 
! but this can be no subject of surprise to 
I those acquainted with like, or any other 
' kind of investigations. After a full di- 
j gest of the iacts collected has been made, 
very little observation in the field will 
remove all difficulties. There were none 
supposed to exist, until too late in the 
survey to commence a reexamination. 

" The only opening noticed in the 
hills at Greene, near the village, is Cam- 
eron's quarry, which was wrought for 
the Canal. In mineral character the 
contents of the quarry greatly resemble 
the group in most of its other localities. 
There are fossils which show identity. 
It also contains the large species of en- 
crinite, so common, and which appears 
to be confined to this group : it is almost 
invariably replaced, in great part or 
wholly, with lamellar carbonate of iron. 
The upper part of the quarry is compact 
rock with concretions, and the lower part 
consists of thin and irregular masses 
with slaty shale : the floor of the quar- 
ry showed tentaculites. 

" Catskill group. — This group has an 
extensive range in the county, covering 
a large area of the high ground between 
the Unadilla and Chenango, and be- 
tween the Chenango and Geneganslette 
rivers, and extending in places to the 
west of the latter. It aflbrds better 
building materials than the lower rocks 
of the southern counties, especially the 
grindstone variety, which occurs to the 
Avest of Chenango river. This latter 
rock is abundant in the towns of Pres- 
ton, McDonough and Pharsalia. It is 
easily wrought, is of a good lively color, 
and is the handsomest building material 
of the whole southern counties." 

The remarks of Mr. Vanuxem upon 
the structure of the rocks of Chenango 
are now closed. It may be added that 
the Portage and Ithaca groups outcrop (or 
display) themselves prominently on the 
hill directly west of the county seat. 
The same groups are supposed to out- 
crop again on the hill east of the sama 



CHENANGO COUNTY 



41 



place. The Haixiilton. group outcrops 
prominently on the hill side in Norwich 
village north, near the brewery, and at 
this spot some elegant fossils have beeji 
collected. 

In the year 1840 a report upon Eco- 
7W)mical Geology^ was submitted to the 
Crovernor by Ezra S. Carr, Assistant 
State Geologist. 

The assistant says, " the green por- 
tion of the Montrose sandstone, from its 
superior hardness, affords a durable ma- 
terial for construction. Several quarries 
in this rock are opened along the Che- 
nango valley, and many between Greene 
and Oxford. Among the most important, 
jjiiay be mentioned that of McNeals, four 
lijiles south of Oxford, on the east side 
Cif the canal. 

From this quarry are obtained large 
aiJjid beautiful flagging stones, many of 
which are taken to Binghamton, on the 
canal, for this purpose. 

" The grit of Oxford supplies the sur- 
rounding country with grindstones and 
whetstones ; it is also used for mantle 
pieces, jambs, sinks &c. Although this 
rock is not arranged in layers, from its 
softness it is readily cut into any desira- 
ble form. The principal quarries in this 
rock are those of Simmons four miles 
south of Oxford, and Reaches, north of 
the village. 

" Erratic Blocks^ — In the more north'' 
em parts of the county of Chenango,, 
masses of granite some of which are of 
enormous size, are seen. These dimin^ 
ish in size and number as you go south. 

Succeeding Mr. Vanuxem's survey 
was one by Professor Emmons, made 
with reference to " Agricultural Geolo- 
gyy We are not prepared to say wheth- 
er or not the Professor was the founder 
of this new applicatioii of the science of 
rock formations to the art of husbandry. 
By analizing the constituent chemical 
properties of the various groups or rocks, 
described by Mr. Vanuxem the Professr 
or arrives at the true nature and adapta- 
tion to tillage of the soil in southern 
New York. But his theory is modified 
and limited by many contingencies ; such 
as place, hcichth, etc. The professor 
6 



says, " the atmosphere has its climate, 
and soils have theirs." That is, the 
temperature of the ground, beneath its 
surface, in the same locality or place, 
is found to vary in its mean several de» 
grees. Again he says, " the climate of 
the soil has not," according to his obser- 
vation, been determined for any latitude. 
Besides heighth and place, water is an- 
other modifying condition in the tem- 
perament of the earth. Thus wet lands 
are said to be cold ; the application of 
the thermometer beneath the surface 
proves it. 

The agricultural G eologists divided or 
classified the soils of the State, making 
six districts or different species of earth 
each dissimilarly capacitated from the 
other. This county is included in the 
fifth or soiithern agricultural district. Of 
these districts Professor Emmons made 
a state map, and colored it to mark the 
divisions. The map places this county 
in the "eminently grazing" district. 
The eminently grazing district de- 
nominated the fifth on the map, includes 
all that part of the State south of the 
line of Madison County. It goes as far' 
west as the Pennsylvania line and east 
so far as the eastern slope of the Cats-' 
kill mountains. When the words emi- 
nently grazing are used, it is not implied' 
that in dairying, for instance, fewer 
pounds of butter are made from a cow,' 
other things equal, out of this district 
than in it ; but the difference consists in 
quality not quantity. It is this that 
makes Chenango butter and cheese al- 
ways more acceptable in market than 
that manufactured in the grain growing* 
or wheat regions. 

Agricultural Geology starts with the 
hypothesis that the rocks lying beneath 
the earth either control or influence the 
nature of the soil spread out upon its 
surface. 

" The agricuUjiral capacity of the 
Hamilton shales (denominated by Mr. 
Vanuxem the Hamilton group.) These 
have a capability in production decided- 
ly of a diflferent kind from those of the 
lime stone shales in the other sections of 
the State. This chani^^e i;^ due to the 



42 



HISTORY OF 



constitution of the rocks mainly, al-' 

ihougli no doubt heiglith, configuration 
and slope may modify to a certain ex- 
lent the productive qualities of the re- 
gion over which these rocks extend. 
Agriculturally they closely resemble 
the Hudson river rocks, and we may 
perhaps say with truth that this resem- 
blance is no less than that of their li- 
thological characters. Both series are 
remarkably destitute of calcareous mat- 
ter, and both are distantly associated, 
if the expression is proper, with lime- 
stones below. Thus the Utica slate re- 
sembles the Marcellus slate : both are 
somewhat calcareous, and both succeed 
heavy beds of limestone, which con- 
stitute important landmarks or way 
boards for tbe determination of series 
and groups. In the Hudson river shales, 
a few bands of limestone, highly fos- 
siliferous, appear towards the end or 
about the middle of the series. So in 
the Hamilton shales, impure calcareous 
bands are met with, though the calca- 
reous seems to have been derived from 
the petrifactions which they enclose. 
This shows that some calcareous matter 
existed in solution in the waters from 
which these rocks were separated or de- 
posited ; indeed che shales sometimes 
efTervesce feebly. Now the main pe- 
culiarity Avhich we find in these rocks 
consists in the ability to produce good 
pasturage; the soil possesses that light 
character which fits it for sweet gra- 
zing. There is always seemingly suf- 
ficient alumen or clay in these rocks 
to give the debris, the proper consisten- 
cy to hold water, and this rarely to ex- 
cess. There are two other circumstan- 
ces which contribute to form a grazing 
country where these rocks predominate, 
namely, sweet and pure water, and a 
hilly surface. The Avater under such 
circumstances drains off rapidly and 
leaves the soil refreshed : it will not 
stagnate above or beneath the surface. 
If the grass herbage is not so luxuriant, 
it is sweeter and promotes the health 
of animals which feed upon it. 

The atmosphere circulates freely over 
the hills and through the va]le3's, and 



thereby rapidly renews the essential el- 
ements of life and activity. It is diffi- 
cult to obtain the data from which the 
thickness of this rock can be determined. 
By estimating the fossiliferous and non- 
ibisiliferous parts by themselves and 
summing up the result, we obtain from 
1000 to 2000 feet thickness." 

'•The T'uUy Limestone. — The thick- 
ness of the Tully limestone is from 
tweh'o to fifteen feet : hence the mass 
is too inconsiderable to exert any influ- 
ence upon the soil." 

'■'■The Genesee Slate, is estimated to 
be at its deepest point from 800 to 400 
feet thick." As this rock scarcely 
shows itself in the county we will not 
copy into our pages its agricultural 
cliaracter. 

'"■Puriage, Ithaca and Chemung 
groups.— Agricultural character of the 
shale?, flags and sandstones of these 
groups. The purposes of agriculture 
do not require an identification of those 
rocks : they belong chemically and min- 
eralogically to the same class. The 
structure, tbe tendency to decomposi- 
tion, and the soil which is formed by 
disintegration, does not difTer essential- 
ly in Albany county from that of Alle- 
ghany and' Cataraugus counties. These 
rocks have characters peculiar to them- 
selves and which distinguish them from 
calcareous limestone formations. The 
greatest chemical difference is found in 
the absence of lime, except Avhere it is 
derived from strata at a distance.- — 
When the soil is first broken up, some 
lime may be found ; but cultivation and 
the exposure to which a cultivated sur- 
face suffers from percolation (or filter- 
ing) of water soon removes the calca- 
reous matter. The soil is then a silico 
— aluminous one, and may in some pla- 
ces be a still" hard soil; in others the 
predominance of sand gives it charac- 
ter directly opposite." Our limits for- 
bid giving further detail of the rela- 
tions which these rocks bear to the ca- 
pabilities of the soil. 

'■'■ Agriadlural, Character of the. Cat- 
skill grouj). — The soil is colored red, 
when derived from the Catskili rocks. 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



43 



The red marls form a soil very well 
compounded of sand and clay : it de- 
rives an advantage from its color. Red 
soils are warmer and earlier, yet they 
do not bear drought so welt as the 
brown and yellow loams. The soil of 
these rocks may be regarded as light, 
and being deficient in lime and alka- 
lies, It is not so productive at first, nor 
so durable, as those of Onondaga and 
Cayuga counties. The thichness of 
the Catskill division of rocks is between 
1800 and 2000 feet." 

We now close this very imperfect 
sketch of agricultural Geology. The 
most we expect to do in this abstract 
branch of our subject is to call the at- 
tention of farmers to the vital impor- 
tance of comprehending the geological 
and chemical properties of their re- 
spective farms. It is true all north- 
ern grains can be grown in the county. 
But some of them must, from physical 
and insuperable causes, come forth a 
sickly crop. For instance we have 
been shown an estmate of wheat grown 
in. Chenango and Niagara county: 
while Niagara, the lime rock region, 
averages 18 bushels to the acre, Che- 
nango produces but 12. Yet this is a 
high average for this section of the 
state, as some of our sister counties 
adjoing obtain prorniscuouly only from 
9 10 11 bushels. By comprehending 
the capacity of the soil, and every 
growth is native to some soil, the most 
profitable tillage will be adopted. The 
sciences are put in motion to advance 
agriculture. They are about to realize 
what Dean Swift said, and said well, 
over one hundred years ago. That is ''he 
who should cause two blades of grass to 
spring upwhere but one grew before, 
would approve himself the greatest ben- 
efactor of his race." Chemistry now an- 
alizes the component parts of soils 
with as much facility as she detects poi- 
son in the human stomach. We may hope 
the time is not far distant when our ac- 
ademies and public schools will be pre- 
pared to instruct youth in agricultural 
chemistry and agricultural geology. 
In this connection we may once 



more propound the much disputed 
point ; does Chenango County contain 
m ines of mineral coal ? We are aware 
that it has been dug for in various parts. 
In Madison county next north of Che- 
nango considerable expense has been 
incurred to make explorations. 

It is currently reported, among the 
citizens of Norwich village and firmly 
believed that many years ago numer- 
ous large lumps of pure anthracite coal 
were dug out of the hills lying along 
the Goodrich brook about one and a half 
miles south-east of that village. Wit- 
nesses say the discovery was made by 
an ingenious blacksmith who found it 
in quantities sufficient to supply all the 
fuel requisite to carry on his business. — 
To dispense with the article of charcoal 
w'as an economical consideration with 
the smith and induced him to preserve 
the locality and his knowledge of it a 
profound mystery. He did, it is true, 
after a time communicate the secret to a 
man in custody on the jailliberties; and 
this individual went regularly every Sun- 
day,(the only day he could leave the limits) 
and obtained sufficient quantities to sup- 
ply the discoverers wants through the 
coming week. The novelty of using 
this kind of coal for blacksmithing at- 
tracted the attention of the villagers, 
whose curiosity was immensely stimula- 
ted by the very concealment practiced. — 
The coal diggers were narrowly watch- 
ed and observed to pass over the river 
bridge, east of the village, and thence 
to stroll off in a south-easterly course 
among the hills. After somewhat over 
one hours absence, they returned freight- 
ed with as much of the mineral as their 
shoulders could support. Others follow- 
ed their trail but made no revelations. — 
A t length the prisoner was released from 
his confinement and removed to unknown 
parts. The blacksmith died soon after 
and with him perished all knowledge 
upon this subject. Since his decease 
many unavailing efforts have been made 
to unearth this coal. 

We have the foregoing statement 
from credible men who insist that they 
were personal observers of all that is 



44 



HISTORY OF 



here asserted, and who are too intelli- 
gent to be deceived as to the facts. 

It is represented also that the first set- 
tlers discovered coal along the same 
brook, but they concluded the In- 
dians had deposited there and took no fur- 
ther thought upon the subject. When 
the Geologisis visited Mathewson's Pond 
in New-Berlin they discovered in the 
rocks strata of coal about two inches 
thick and at the time were in doubt if 
it was not a continuation of the Penn- 
sylvania strata. Specimens of coal in 
detached fragments have been collected 
in many pans of the county. We will 
defer our private judgement to that of the 
Geologists who after careful examina- 
tions now confidpntiy assert that this 
county is below the dip of the coal 
mines in Pennsylvania. If their views 
are reliable and we donot see to the con- 
trary, it follows that coal fields do not 
lie in the county. Others are, it must 
be admitted of quite contrary opinion. — 
But the belief of those who deny the 
existence of coal is partially confirm- 
ed by the failure of ejsplorers to discover 
•Veins notwithstanding they have so 
often excavated for ihem. 

It will be v/ell to transcribe briefly 
some of the leading views of Geologists 
relative to the existence of coal fields 
north of that part of Pennsylvania di- 
rectly south of this county. 

"The Northern boundary of the coal 
region appears to be from the head wa- 
ters of Tonawanda creek in Bradford 
county, Pennsylvania, across the coun- 
ties of Potter, McKean, Warren and Ve- 
nango in the same State, to the Ohio 
line." Comstock's Geologv. 

A report on this region has been made 
by R. C. Taylor, a practical engineer 
and geologist, for the Blossbiirg Rail- 
Road company, in which it is shown that 
the coal runs out, as the streams decline 
towards the north. The dip of the coal 
strata towards the west, is such as to re- 
quire towards the east an elevation of over 
five thousand feet, in order to include 
the coal measures at the State line be- 
tween New York and Pennsylvania, 
i^-hereas, the hills there are probably less 



than six hundred feet in altitude. This 
calculation, says Mr. Taylor, is niado 
for the purpose of showing the futility 
of the expectation of tracing these coal 
fields in a northerly direction, beyond the | 
limits at which they are discoverable. 1 

Chenango County is in the third geo- 
logical district of the State. Mr. T. A, 
Conrad, State Geologist, reports (see 
Assembly documents 161,) upon the \ 
probabilities of coal formations in this ' 
region, as follows : 

" Owing to the great demand for this 
species of fuel in many sections of the 
district, repeated local examinations, not 
guided by science, have been made to 
ascertain its presence in veins er strata, 
but without success. The true relations 
of the rocks here to the carboniferous de- 
posites of Pennsylvania, have hitherto 
been greatly misunderstood, and the 
comparisons with European formations 
remote from the true analogies." 

Mr. Conrad then quotes Dr. Bucland^ 
an English Geologist, who says : " Be- 
fore Ave had acquired by experiment 
some extensive knowledge of the con- 
tents of each series of formations, which 
the geologist can readily identify, there 
was no a priori reason to expect the 
presence of coal in any one series of stra- 
ta rather than another. Indiscriminate 
experiments in search of coal, in strata ; 
of every formation, were therefore desi- 1 
rable and proper in an age when evert 
the name of Geology Avas unknown ; bul 
the continuance of such experiments ini 
districts which are now ascertained to be 
composed of the non-carboniferous stra- 
ta of the secondary and tertiary series, 
can no longer be justified, since the ac- 
cumulated experience of many years 
has proved that it is only in the strata 
of the transition series, which have been 
designated as the Carboniferous order, 
that productive coal mines on a large ' 
scale have ever been discovered." Mr. ] 
Conrad \ipon the forgoing, remarks "we j 
may add, that it is equally fruitless to 
search for such mines in strata below as 
it is in those above the carboniferous or- 
der." Mr. Conrad next starts with some 
bold propositions that cannot, we think, 



CHENANGO COUNTY 



45 



hti unacceptable to the reader. He as- 
sures us not only are all the coal beds 
or strata of the Union ol' later geologi- 
cal date, and higher in the scale of 
formation, than the rocks of the third 
district, but one fact illustrative of the 
manner in which the strata originated, is 
particularly worthy of notice, because it 
has important bearings on the question 
regarding the possibility of discovering 
coal. From the deposition of the first 
sedimentary rocks, to that of the newest 
stratum of the district, all the dry hind, 
if there was any, seems to have been 
confined to the few points presented by 
naked and primary rocks. Admitting 
that all coal deposites of any extent and 
vahie were derived from luxuriant vege- 
tation on land or in fresh water marsh- 
es, we percieve that the conditions nec- 
essary for the deposition of extensive 
coal strata could not have existed in a 
region where marine formations prevail- 
ed, to the exclusion even of small Isl- 
ands, sufficient to nourish a scancy veg- 
etation. This opinion is confirmed by 
a comparison of the organic remains 
contained in strata intimately associated 
with coal, with those of the upper rock 
of the third district. The former strata 
are characterised by fossils of the car- 
^/oniferous order, but the latter by those 
.of Silurian or lower transition rocks.— 
Such are the results of Palaoontological 
distinctions, which may be relied on 
when other evidence of antiquity in 
rocks may not easily be found. 

In the fourth annual report (Assem- 
bly document 50) made to Governor 
Seward, by William W. Mather 
(184f),) to whom was assigned the 
the first geological district of the state 
we extract the following, inasmuch as 
what is applicable to the Catskill moun- 
tain group or series in Delaware is 
equally pertinent to this county. Seams 
and layers, says Mr. Mather of pure an- 
thracite have been observed in some pla- 
ces, and fossil plants similar to those of 
Ishe coal beds of Carbondale have been 
found, (referring to Delaware, Greene, 
and other counties) not only in the 
^lales associated with the anthracite. 



but also abundantly in the grits and sla- 
ty sandstones of the middle and upper 
parts of the series. These strata are 
all, perhaps below the coal bearing rocks 
of Pennsylvania, and it is not consider- 
ed probable that coal will be found 
in useful quantities in tliem ; still 
some parts of the upper portions' 
bear so much resemblance to the anthra- 
cite coal rocks of Pennsylvania, both in 
mineralogicai character and fossil re- 
mains, that it is thought possible, that 
coal beds of -workable thickness may be 
discovered. 

Mr. Comstock in his outlines of ge-* 
ology remarks that although it is not 
certain that coal exists at any given 
place until it is actually found, still there 
are indications which might perhaps 
warrant the expense of search, by bo- 
ring in districts where coal has never 
been discovered. These indications are 
various and to point them out requires 
much experience upon the subject. 

Mr. Fare\'^ states that in England the 
coal districts incline to clay, and are 
generally of an inferior quality. When 
laid down to pastures small daisies and 
insignificant weeds are more disposed 
to prevail than grass. In these districts, 
water is generally procured at inconsid- 
erable depths, and when the faults are 
numerous, springs are common, and 
range in a line with the fault. By the 
expression /(2z^Z? is understood some in- 
terruption of the coal vein by anothei" 
rock intervening or running across thd 
vein and cutting it apart. The face of 
the country where coal exists is general- 
ly undulating, the hills being rounded 
and not mural or precipitous, and the 
valleys gently sloping and not deep 
as they are in granite formations. — ' 
Sometimes, however, coal is found in 
hills more than a thousand feet above 
the general level of the country. Near- 
ly all coal formations are basin-shaped, 
or in that form which would arise from 
a deposition of strata in lakes or ponds 
of various depths. 

Searching for Co«/.— According to 
Mr. Comstock, in most instances, the in- 
clination or bending of coal strata, is 



46 



HISTORY OF 



such that the veins rise nearly to the 
suri'ace, and would be vitiible, were they 
not covered by llie t;uil or gravel. — 
When this is the case, the removal of 
the soil by a rivulet or the accidental 
elide of a side hill will uncover the 
strata, so tluit their dip and thickness j 
can be determined. This is considered 
a very fortunate circumstance because 
the boring for coal, without some such 
indications that it exists in greater or 
less quantities, even in coal districts is 
a very uncertain means of its discovery. 
Sometimes borings of great depths have 
been made in the immediate vicinity of 
large coal fields, without producing any 
greater conviction of the existence of the 
mineral than the surface before indica- 
ted. 

Where a coal stratum comes to the 
surface, continues Mr. C. it is generally 
in a decomposed state, and so mixed 
with the earth as to present no other ap- 
pearance of coal than a darker color, 
when compared with the surrounding 
soil. Hence the real quality of the coal 
cannot be determined until it is taken 
from below the inliuence of the Aveath- 
er, and in general, its quality improves 
as it sinks deeper into the earth. 

The State Geologists pronounce the 
county barren of minerals and of min- 
eral wealth. Dr. Lewis C. Beck, on the 
mineralogical and chemical department 
of the State survey, and Avhose reports 
constitute several volumes of the Natu- 
ral History of New York, notes four min- 
eral springs lying within the county. One 
in McDonough, known as Spec's Spa. 
Another two miles south of Norwich 
village. A third in Pharsalia, and a 
fourth in the town of Pitcher. To the 
above may be added a fifth about two 
miles from Sherburne village. These 
springs evolve Sulphuretted Hydrogen. 
"Their origin is ascribed to the ac- 
tion of water upon the sulphurets of 
ftalcium, magnesium &c., Avhich not im- 
probably exist at great depths. It may 
also be stated, that the existence of such 
a compound in the interior of the earth 
is in entire accordance with the views 



entertained by many philosophers, con* 
corning the cause of volcanic action." 

To the foregoing may yet be added 
a sixth mineral spring, on the Randall 
farm below Norwich village. The wa- 
ters of this spring are tinctured strongly 
with carbureted hydrogen and are 
sweetish when tasted. 

We will pass the mineral springs for 
the present and recur to them under a 
future arrangement of the history. 

Mr. Conrad discovered 7icw fossils in 
the county worthy of note in this con* 
nection. 

DESCRIPTION OF NEW FOSSILS. 
First Group. 
POSIDONIA. 

Fosidonia lirata. — Shell suborbicular, 
convex depressed ; disk with about 18 
concentric angulated carina3, and with 
concentric stria. Length nearly one 
inch. Localitfj, near Norwich. 

Fterinea conccnlrica. — Shell ovate ob* 
long, compressed, with numerous pro- 
found concentric striae ; disk obliquely 
contracted from beak to base ; posterior 
end dilated, margin rounded. Length 
one and a half inches. Locality, near 
Norwich. It much resembles a Modio 
la in outline. 

Fterinea a'ppressa.-^'&XwW ovate ob 
long, flattened, disk with distant angular 
concentric carinas and striated ; umbonial 
slope very oblique and carinated ; dorsal 
margin rectilinear, parallel with the ba- 
sal margin. Length, three inches. Jm' 
cality, near Norv/ich. 

Fterinea pu?ictidata. — Shell profound" 
ly elongated ; disk with an oblique fur- 
row from beak to base ; surface covered 
with minute elevated punctas disposed 
in form of rays on the anterior side ; um- 
bonial slope carinated ; dorsal margin re- 
curved ; posterior extremely truncated ; 
posterior basal margin straight. Length, 
two and a half inches. Locality, same 
as the preceding. 

GONIATITES. 

Gonialiics puyiccaiKS. — Shell com- 
pressed, surface covered with minute, 






CHENANGO COUNTY. 



47 



elevated 



punclse ; sepia with a single 
rounded lobe on the disk, angulated at 
the periphery. Length, one and three- 
fourth inches. Locality, near Sherburne. 

Lakes. — Chenango County abounds 
in small lakes commonly called ponds. 
There are from eight to ten existing 
among the highlands of the county. 
They are of various dimensions and dif- 
ferent depths. Smithville, McDonough 
and New Berlin contain the most* con- 
siderable ones in the county. They 
abound with nearly every variety of fish 
found in the rivers of the county. Some 
of the fish were a few years ago transfer- 
red or colonized from the rivers and have 
propagated their species in their new 
homes until they are as abundant as the 
natives. 

]\L-. Noah Mathewson, after whom the 
large pond in New Berlin is named, ma- 
ny years ago transplanted a pair of pick- 
erel, male and female, in his pond, but 
they died soon after leavmg no progeny. 
About twelve years since Mr. Abel Com- 
stock, of Norwich, who is an expert an- 
gler, tried the same experiment, with the 
same kind of fish, in the same pond and 
with complete success. At this day Avhen- 
ever our fishermen capture one of these 
veterans, they silently thank Mr. Com- 
stock for his provident foresight in provi- 
ding the means for their pastime. No 
pickerel inhabited the McDonough pond 
until some of the Norwich citizens, Mr. 
Comstock among the number, planted a 
colony after the manner described. At 
this day in both of these ponds this kind 
of fish are predominant. The water in 
the ponds is clear, cold and healthful to 
them. From some unknown cause the 
pickerel in the McDonough pond recent- 
ly died out to an alarming extent. But 
the colony is recovering and has nearly 
regained its usual health and promises 
rich sport to future anglers. 

The largest pond in the county is the 
main one in Smithville. The Mathew- 
son pond is renowned for its fine scenery 
(as also the one in McDonough), It is 
situated about six miles from the county 
seat, is about one mile in length, about 
three-fourths of the distance across, in 



its widest part, and alioiit forty feet in 
depth. The original outlet was changed 
by Mr, Mathewson many years ago. 
He caused on the lower side of the pond 
a ditch to be cut (through a stone em- 
bankment) about fifteen feet deep and 
four feet in width. Through this nar- 
row sluice way the waters were conduc- 
ted for the purpose of propelling mills. 
This artificial outlet lowered the pond 
about six feet. This pond is resorted to 
in summer by the citizens of Norwich 
village and New Berlin as a place of rec- 
reation. The cooling influence of the 
waters in the hot season and the Avild 
character of the scenery along its banks 
makes it a most attractive point in sum- 
mer. It is at this spot pic nic parties 
generally rendezvous in quest of pleas- 
ure. 

Mr. Mathewson has had the good 
sense to leave standing many evergreen 
trees that shade its romantic borders. 
Of the McDonough lake Ave are not yet 
prepared to speak from personal observa- 
tion. There are ponds in Guilford. One 
of them, covering an area of about one 
himdred acres, is chiefly remarkable for 
its profundity and for its elevated posi- 
tion. The lake is in a basin situated in 
the highest group of hills between the 
Chenango and Unadilla rivers. 

Near to the Mathewson pond is an 
ebbing and flowing spring worthy of 
note, Mr. M. now past eighty, informs 
the writer that he always obtains by ob- 
serving the motions of this spring, a true 
indication of the coming weather. Ha 
says soon before a storm and before rain, 
however low the rivulets about his farm 
may be, this spring, situated in a hill, 
pours out a rapid stream that continues 
until the storm rages and then recedes to 
its usual dimensions. 

The remark reminded the writer of 
the movements of an ebbing and flow- 
ing spring visited by him many years 
ago in the state of Virginia. That 
spring issued from a ledge of high rocks 
on a hill side. The aperture in the 
rock from whence the water poured, was 
about five feet, measured horizontally, 
and three feet high. At an interval of 



48 



HISTORY OF 



about two minutes the moij.'h of the rock 
ivas filled with an impetuous current so 
vStrong as to sweep all before it. The 
rush of water continued about the fourth 
of a minute. It then ceased instantly 
and left no trace that any torrent had 
flowed from the roclc. At the expiration 
of two minutes the flood re-issued as be^ 
fore. 

CLIMATE OF THE COUNTY. 

Chenango is situated about two hun- 
dred miles north-west from the nearest 
point of the Atlantic coast. It lies 
about sixty miles south-east from the 
southern shore of lake Ontaj'io. Very 
nearly betAveen the county and the prox- 
imate point on the sea shore are the 
Catskill mountains. Ontario is several 
hundred feet below the Chenango valley, 
and no remarkable rise of country inter- 
venes between this section and the lake. 
Hence the cold air, high Avinds, clouds 
and storms that occasionally usurp the 
otherwise temperate atmosphere of this 
section, are derived chiefly fronj the lake 
country. The heavy snow clouds visit 
this region coming mostly from, east- 
north-east. The north-west winds chill 
the sky and exhibit phenomena common 
to the same currents of air in the more 
immediate neighborhood of the inland, 
fresh water seas, situated in high lati- 
tudes. The difference is in degree and 
duration. 

Th« frigid, frosty weather in the coun- 
ty, sets in usually during November. 
It is less trying to health and is less 
disagreeable than the chilly, north-west 
winds in March and April. In all sec- 
tions of the State Avhen the snoAvs are 
melting in spring and Avhile the sun is 
extracting frost from the earth, the at- 
mosphere is far more penetrating and 
formidable to the constitution, than the 
clear, cold air of autumn or Avinter. 
The air of spring as it is inhaled into 
the lungs, searches the system internally 
and renders very Avarm clothing at this 
period more indispensable than in mid- 
winter. In the spring when (he Aveath- 
er is most trving out of doors, but little 



fire is required to form an agreeable cli- 
nixate Avithin. 

The east Avind, a terror to the people 
inhabiting the sea coast, seldom prevails 
in the county. In the summer of 1849 
it AA^as most prevalent and is thought to 



have caused a failure of the fruit cro 



of the county in that year. Apples, it is 
said Avere blasted or paralized on the 
side exposed to the east. So also Avith 
fruit generally along the sea shore. 
Some Aveil matured fruit was secured in 
the county ; for this there is believed to j 
have been some local causes, such as a I 
forest shutting out theAvind, or high hills * 
lying east of the orchards. The summer 
season in the County is quite uniform 
and the heat is seldom oppressive. An 
exception to this occurs Avhen the preva- 
lent Avind is from the east. This Avind 
renders the atmosphere too cool for com- 
fort, health or A-^egetation. The air of 
the County, like that of eleA'ated coun- 
tries everyAvhere, is strong and bracing. 
It is also free from noxious A'apors and is 
Avell supplied with Oxygen, Avhich is 
very favourable to life. As science pro- 
gresses in its usefulness, the day is nut 
far distant, Ave may hope, Avhen will be 
accomplished Avith facility an analysis of 
the component fluids and gasses floating 
in our atmosphere at particular seasons 
Avhen epidemics prevail : that Ave may 
be apprised of the relative existence of 
such as confer health and longevity as 
Avell as those that engender pestilence 
and abridge human life. In the Sum- 
mer of 1849 a Chemist in Philadelphia 
City analized the atmosphere for the | 
purpose of detecting the secret agencies 
employed in generating Asiatic Cholera. 
The air of the County, like sea air, is 
invigorating, but unlike salt air, is re- 
markably elastic. Sound lungs are re- 
quired to resist its action ; but Avith a 
respiratory organization unimpaired, long 
life may be expected ; as witness the 
pioneer population of the County by na» 
ture robust, industrious, abstemious and 
observant of the laAvs of health. 

Cutting aAvav the forest in central and 
southern NeAV York exerted some influ' 
encc upon the climate. The ancient in- 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



49 



habitants sometimes remark there is now 
but two seasons here; Summer and 
Winter! It is obvious the winds are less 
restrained as the woodlands disappear. — 
But to what extent this undulating re- 
gion is affected by such a cause has not 
yet been definitely determined. 

Here the human constitution may be 
said to be prepared for very cold weather 
by the middle of November; it remains in 
a manner insensible to an extremely low^ 
state of the mercury until in the month 
of March. This remark has application 
to that class of the inhabitants accus- 
tomed to atmospheric influences. The 
other, and more numerous class, that 
employ hot air stoves, ever avoiding all 
contact with the winter weather, are not 
a criterion upon which to base any judg- 
ment in this particular. ■ The hardiest 
plants and those native to the county, if 
taken from the earth in autumn and 
transferred to hot houses would wither 
if removed before summer to their native 
beds. 

The month of March is much dreaded 
in all of the middle States. Near the 
lakes, its approach is terrific. In this 
county it is comparatively mild and free 
from the continual winds on the lake 
shore. It brings in cold, penetrating, 
disagreeable blasts ; but they are tran- 
sient and speedily pass ofT. Sleet, hail, 
rains and thick mists involve our atmos- 
phere more or less during this month and 
render the roads and the earth disagree- 
able after some time into April. The 
most serious objections to this inclement 
season here are as " dust in the balance" 
when weighed with the tempestuous and 
piercing blasts that sweep along the lake 
countries, leaving malignant fevers in 
their train. 

Autumn along the lakes is milder than 
in Chenango. Perhaps for this reason ; 
in summer the sun sheds down very 
warm, unbroken raj's upon the smooth 
surface of the waters and tempers them 
at great depths. When this warming 
influence is withdrawn the effect is not 
perceptible upon the water until a con- 
siderable time after it is felt upon the 
land. As soon as the earth falls to a 



temperature below the Avaters, they re- 
turn caloric sufficient to preserve an equi- 
librium in the atmosphere (above and be- 
low the the surface of the water.) 

But this mean temparature is destroy- 
ed during the winter when bodies of ice 
form in the lakes. The ice made in 
winter on the lakes remains for a long 
time after the earth is thawed out and 
keeps the atmosphere disagreeably cold, 
'i'he ever recurring lake breeze keeps 
this cold air swiftly circulating along the 
lake shore until the month of June. The 
winds on the lakes are usually most vio- 
lent in spring. Ail of the disagreeable 
influences of the lake climate are little 
known in Chenango. 

The country east of the Alleghany 
mountains and west of the Atlantic 
coast, including this, has an ununiform at- 
mosphere. Meteorologists, profess to ac- 
count for the discrepancy between the 
climate west and east of the Alleghanies. 

Along the water courses of the coun- 
ty in the fall season, heavy fogs arise 
in the morning but vanish by nine or ten 
o'clock. They present a curious specta- 
cle to residents on the highest hills. As 
they rise from the earth Aey mark the 
windings of all the rivers through the 
high hill gorges. The view is at such 
times one of surpassing splendor. The 
fogs seldom visit the hills. The atmos- 
phere of the fogs is heavy and unelastic 
and oppressive to strangers, but other- 
wise to residents. 

After what has been said, it will read- 
ily be understood wh)'- the general health 
of the natives of Chenango sufi^ers severe- 
ly in the damp climates of the west. 
The emigrants from this section, (if in 
health) seldom, we think never, remove 
to the unbroken, champaigne country of 
the west and along the lakes without 
undergoing a new acclimation at the ex- 
pense of good health. They encounter 
billions fevers, sometimes earlier, some- 
times later ! But always sooner or later. 

Those who emigrate towards the At- 
lantic, except consumiptives, and asthmat- 
ics renew their health bv the change. 



50 



HISTORY OF 



THE COUNTY SEAT. 

The civil divisions of the State into 
Counties, Towns, Cities and Villages 
were partly completed while New York 
remained a dependency of Great Britain. 
The divisions of the State made subse- 
quent to the revolution, is only the Eng- 
lish plan carried out in exle7iso. The 
present system of our local divisions ori- 
ginated among, or rather was adopted bv 
the Saxons, so long ago as the year six 
hundred. 

In modern times the Island of Britain 
is separated into departments, called 
counties ; the counties are again sub-di- 
vided into hundreds ; the hundreds are 
cut up into tithings or towns. The seat 
of a county is more frequently denomi- 
nated the shire-town. The term shire 
is Saxon and signifies a division. In the 
United States the word shire is seldom 
used, except in its compounds, as fol- 
lows : "shire-town," " half-shire," &c. 
In this State the shire-town is the place 
where courts are held and where county 
officers convene to transact public busi- 
ness. Some counties, like Oneida, have 
two or three county seats and the 
towns where courts are held alternately, 
are mostly known as half-shires. 

In the year 178S March 7, a law was 
enacted to establish new towns in the 
original county of Montgomery. That 
county at one time included all of this 
part of the State as well as much of the 
eastern section of New York. 

The town of Whitestown was organ- 
ized under this law. Whitestown in- 
cluded Chenango and many other coun- 
ties. In 1791 the town was curtailed by 
the erection of Herkimer, Tioga and Ot 
sego counties out of the ancient county 
of Montgomery. These three counties 
erected during this year comprised what 
was known many years ago as the "wes- 
tern district of the State."' A part oi 
the north boundary of Tioga, (after 17- 
91,) was the present north bounds of 
Pitcher, New Berlin, Pharsalia, Plym- 
outh and North Norwich. The south 
line of the towns of Columbus, Sher- 
burne, Smyrna, Otselic and Lincklaen 



Avas the southern limits of the original 
Herkimer county. When these coun- 
ties were created the towns of the twenty 
townships were designated by their num- 
bers and the names of the towns, as now 
known, were not mentioned. Whites- 
town was the half-shire of Herkimer 
county for several years. Newtown Point 
otherwise Elmira was the shire-town of 
Tioga county. It is believed that the 
records of Chenango, previous to 1798, 
are at present in IJtica and at Owego 
the county seat of Tioga. 

After the erection of the counties of 
Otsego, Herkimer and Tioga, the jail 
at Whitestown was used to confine pris- 
oners as it had been before 1791. 

In the year 1798 Chenango was erec- 
ted from parts of Tioga and Herkimer 
counties. The county seat was located 
at the present village of Hamilton, now 
in Madison county and also at Oxford 
village. Each of these towns remained 
half-shires for some years. Up to 1808, 
the Whitestown jail at Whitesboro, was 
the jail of this county. 

By the terms of the law of 1798 es- 
tablishing the county, the court of com- 
mon pleas and general sessions of the 
Peace was convened at the school house 
in the town of Hamilton near the dwel- 
ling of Mr. Elisha Payne. The second 
meeting of the court took place at Ox- 
ford ; and after this the terms were held 
alternately at each of these places. The 
court met three times in each year to 
dispose of the county business. The 
judges Avere authorized to open the Court 
upon Tuesday but not to hold beyond 
Saturday of the same week. They 
could adjourn at any time before Satur- 
day. 

The legislature left it discretionary 
with the Supreme Court Judges when 
they would appoint a circuit for the 
county. The first circuit was held on 
the lOth of July 1798. Mr. Justice 
Kent, afterwards Chancellor, presided. 
No business was transacted at this sit- 
ting of the court as will appear from the 
subjoined copy of the clerks minutes. 
They are brief and we copy verbatim. 
They read: 




jr.^^MIE§ JSHMir ULoBo 



fma^M/ 



tintered a^ccrding U) die actof Cangress m ihejear 3634: Tt/ James Herrm^ m-tlic dedts -^ce al' ili*^ 
Ihstrict Coort ol the SouthemJHstdctcifN.lfdtlc- 



i 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



51 



" At a Circuit Court held at the Acad- 
emy in the town of Oxford in and for 
the County of Chenango, on the 10th 
July 179S before the Honorable James 
Kent Esquire, one of the Justices of the 
Supreme Court of judicature of the 
State of New York. 

"Present," 
" Hon, James Kent Esq." 
" The Court opened by proclamation." 
" The Court adjourned for one hour." 
•' The Court met pursuant to adjourn- 
ment." 

" Present," 
"Hon. James Kent Esq." 
" The Court adjourned sinedie.^'' 
The second term of the Supreme 
Court was held at Hamilton in July of 
the next year (1799.) We will again 
copy the minutes as best explanatory of 
what transpired at the second holding of 
the same court. After a caption as in 
the preceding, the clerk minutes the pro- 
ceedings thus : 

"Present." 
"Hon. Jacob Radcliff Esq." 
" Court opened by proclamation." 
"Recess of the court one hour." 
" The court met." 
" The Court rose." 

A third term of the Court was held 
in the school-house in Hamilton, on the 
30th of June ISOO. Morgan Lewis 
presided. At this term of theCourt, two 
jury causes were disposed of. The first 
cause tried in the Circuit Court in Che- 
nango was an ej ectment. Arthur Breese 
and Erastus Clark were the opposing 
counsel. Both were residents of Utica 
and died in the prime of life. 

Benjamin Walker and Solomon Per- 
kins were plaintiffs, against Elijah Bond 
defendant. The earliest attornies that 
appeared before this court were Thomas 
P. Gold, Piatt Brush, Joseph Kirkland 
and Nathan Williams. 

John Lansing Jr. was the presiding 
Judge at the fourth term of the Court 
held June 29th 1801. 

Judge Kent presided at the fifth term 
of the Circuit Court appointed for this 
county in the last week of June 1802. 
Peter B. Garnsey Esq. appeared for the 



first time at this term as counsel in an 
ejectment suit. 

The sixth term of the Court was held 
at Oxford on the 29th of June 1803. 
Smith Thompson Esq. presided. 

The seventh term of the court was 
appointed to be held at Oxford, May 29th 
1804. Ambrose Spencer Esq. presided. 
Stephen O. Runyan Esq. of Oxford first 
appeared as counsel at this sitting of the 
Court. 

Daniel D. Thompkins Esq. held the 
eighth Circuit at Hamilton, early in 
May 1805. 

Brockholst Livingston Esq. held 
the ninth term of the Court at Hamilton 
in May 1806. 

Daniel D. Thompkins Esq. held the 
tenth term of tne Court at Oxford, May 
1807. At this term the name of Hen- 
ry Vanderlyn first appears as attorney. 
The action was for breach of contract. 

In 1806 Madison county was set off 
from Chenango. After this time the 
Courts were held alternately at North- 
Norwich and at Oxford. Hill was tried 
in 1809 at North Norwich, charged with 
the murder of a child, found guilty and 
sentenced to be hanged. 

The eleventh term was the first Court 
held at North-Norwich. Judge Joseph 
C.Yates presided. May 30th 1808. 
James Birdsall Esq. made his first 
appearance as counsel, at this court. He 
was counsel for Peter B. Garnsey, Pl'ff, 
against SethGarlick. 

The twelfth term of the court was 
held in the same town, (8th June 1809,) 
at the Meeting House recently demol- 
ished. Smith Thompson presided. At 
this term of the Court Messrs. Wm. M. 
Price and James Clapp appeared as 
counsel in a suit wherein Stephen O. 
Runyan prosecuted James Birdsall. Da • 
vid Butolph Esq., also first appeared as 
counsel in a cause at this term of the 
Court. 

We have traced the different terms 
of the Circuit Court held in Chenango 
from the time of its first session down 
to 1809. 

We now come to speak of the remo- 
val of the County Seat to Norwich vil- 



Si 



HISTORY OF 



iage and its penuauent establishment 
there, 

FIRST COURT HOUSE. 

In the year 1807, March 6th, the leg- 
islature enacted a law authorizing the 
Supervisors of the County to select, with- 
in one mile of the residence of Stephen 
Steere Esq., in Norwich village, a per- 
manent site for building a Court House 
and Jail. The then residence of Mr. 
Steere was on the corner where the Ea- 
gle tavern, owned by Gen. Deforest, was 
burned down in July 1849. For the 
purpose of defraying the cost of build- 
ings and the purchase of a location, the 
legislature empowered the Supervisors 
to assess and cause to be collected, a tax 
upon the freeholders of the county, not 
to exceed in amount the sum of live thou- 
sand dollars. One half of the five thou- 
sand dollars to be collected the first year 
and the remaining twenty five hundred 
the second year. To carry out the de- 
tails of these provisions of the law, the 
Supervisors appointed, by virtue of the 
authority vested in their board, commis- 
sioners to perfect contracts with archi- 
tects and builders. The county was not 
at any cost for the land upon w'hich the 
first or old Court House stood. Peter B. 
Garnsey Esq., tendered to the commis- 
sioners, as a free gift, about one and a 
half acres of land which was accepted 
and which is the same lot upon which 
the present Court House is erected. The 
buildini^ itself occupied but a small por- 
tion of the area of the land bestowed by 
Mr. Garnsey. Appurtenant to the Court 
House is the spacious lawn in front, 
known as the "West Green." The 
commissioners accepted a bid or applica- 
tion from Josiah Dickinson and George 
Saxton conjointly to erect the Court 
House and prison. Under the labors of 
the contractors the building Avas brought 
to completion so as to be in readiness for 
courts very early in the spring of 1809. 
The first Court House was a wooden 
building,' two stories high and substan- 
tially erected. The edifice was square 
and well proportioned. The interior of 
the house was cramped and deficient in 



space. The court room was defective in 
its dimensions as well as in its architec* 
tural symmetry, 'i he room was inade- 
quate to the audiences that congregated, 
when trials of interest took place. At a 
prmritive day, Courts were as numerous- 
ly, perhaps more numerously attended, 
than now. 

The legislature afterwards came to 
the relief of the contractors, who had lost 
money in their enterprise, iind at the ses- 
sion of 1809 authorized, in addition to 
the five thousand dollars already assess- 
ed upon and collected from the Ireehold- 
ers of the county, a further lax of fifteen 
hundred dollars to be collected as the 
first had been and to be paid, when re- 
ceived by the treasurer, as an indemnity 
to the builders, Messrs. Dickinson and 
Saxton. This made the price of the 
building amount to sixty five hundred 
dollars when brought to completion. At 
or about the same time that Mr. Garn- 
sey presented the common, known as the 
west green; Stephen SteereEsq., dona- 
ted to the public, or rather to the villa- 
gers, a lot with dimensions to correspond 
with the gift of Mr. Garnsey. This lot 
is situated opposite, on the east, to the 
Court House and is best known as the 
" East Green." These two greens, con- 
taining between three and four acres, ly- 
ing in a common, are very ornamental to 
the village, as well as convenient to citi- 
zens. 

The beauty of these lawns is marred 
by the roads running diagonally across 
them. The grass herbage in spring is 
seriously cut up by the vehicles that tra- 
verse them in all directions. Several 
unsuccessful efibrts have been made to 
rear up groves upon them, but the young 
trees have always been destroyed ; so 
that, these fine grounds are as naked 
now as in 1807, when they were dedi- 
cated to the public. Some handsome 
shades, tastefully arranged on either 
green, in a few years would give Nor- ' 
wich a romantic and elegant appearance 
in summer. 

In the year 1804, in April, an act pas- 
ed the legislature authorizing the " coun- 
cil of appointment" to select commission- 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



63 



«, rs to lix upon a county seat for this 
county. We cannot ascertain that any 
action whatever was ever taken under 
this law and believe none was. 

COUNTY CLERKS OFFICE. 

In the month of April in the year 
1814, the legislature passed a law to erect 
a new fire-proof clerks ofhce in the coun- 
ty at a cost not to exceed eight hundred 
dollars. ^One half of the eight hundred 
to he collected from the taxable inhabi- 
tants the first year; the remainder in the 
year succeeding. Mr. Garnsey present- 
ed to the county the ^te where the pres- 
ent edifice stands. In harmony with the 
provisions of the law this building was 
erected in 1815 and was made fire-proof; 
that is to say: it has brick \Valls, sheet 
iron coverings on the door and windows, 
and has resting upon the upper ceiling, 
a composition of ashes and salt. The 
roof is covered with the shingles ordina- 
rily in use at the time the edifice was 
constructed. The business room in the 
office is cramped and inconvenient for 
the clerk and persons having occasion to 
examine records. The building was 
when erected, adeq^^te to its purposes. 
But since 1815 the county records, have 
more than doubled, if not quadrupled, — 
At this day the business room of the of- 
fice is densely filled with record «, docu- 
ments and miscellaneous papers. The 
record books are not kept in as perfect 
state of preservation as they would be, if 
there was space to open several volumes 
at the same moment, without piling them 
upon each other. We understand some 
documents have been removed for want 
of room for them, from the office into a 
private closet in the Court House; thus 
in a manner putting them bejond public 
inspection. It is for the interest of eve- 
ry county to look well to the security of 
its public monuments. 

JAIL AND JAIL LIMITS. 

The Court of Common Pleas, in the 
olden time, regulated the jail liberties, 
subject to a law defining their dimen- 
sions. 

The first jail limits of Chenango were 



established by the Common Pleas in 
July 1799 at Sherburne old four corners 
adjacent to the former residence of Josiah 
Purdy. The reader will remember the 
jail and the jail liberties were at differ- 
ent places. The jail itself was at Whites- 
town, now Whitesboro, in the present 
county of Oneida. The old county of 
Chenango and the present county used 
the Whitestown jail, at has before been 
remarked, until the year 1808. 

In the year 1802, the jail liberties of 
the county were transferred from the 
" old four-corners". to the village of Ox- 
ford. At Oxford they were continued 
until the year 1S05, when, in October of 
this year, tliey were permanently estab- 
lished at Norwich village ; here they 
have since remained. The early jail 
liberties were exceedingly restricted and 
the restriction maist have worked griev- 
ous hardships upon the unfortunate debt- 
ors who chanced to fall under the ban 
of the law. Three acres of territory- 
was the legal limitation for the bounda- 
ries of the limits. The Norwich liber- 
ties were surveyed out by Judge Caspar 
M. Rouse. They contained two acres, 
one quarter of an acre and three roods 
of land. The legislature, in after years 
relaxed restraints hitherto imposed ; in 
the year 1819 enlarged the liberties of 
the ' jail to the size of the corporation 
limits of Norwich village and thus they 
have continued up to the present year 
(1S50.) 

The old jail of the county was 
very insecure. Practicable breach- 
es were often made through its walls. — 
The jail was constructed within the Court 
House as also a residence for the turn- 
key or j ailor. 

Desperate felons often effected a gener- 
al jail delivery, without awaiting the vi- 
cisitudes of a regular trial agreeably to 
the tedious forms of criminal procedure. 
The jail had wooden walls. Fire art- 
fully applied generally secured an es- 
cape. Sometimes the flames would rage 
beyond control ; endangering the lives 
of the incendiaries and jeopardizing the 
edifice itself. For the safer custody of 
prisoners, the legislature, by an act pass- 



64 



HISTORY OF 



€il iu the y*-ar 1S30, antliorized llie Su- 1 
pervisors to levy ami cmIIcoI a tax on the 
county of two thousand doUars, to erect 
a stone jail, to be located on the lands of 
the county, within the bounds of Nor- 
wich village. The present jail was 
built by virtue of this; law. We believe 
part of the ediiice was not placed on the 
county land. Charles York, Heiny 
Snow and Thompson Meade were ap- 
pointed coniniissioners to plan and con- 
tract for and superintend the finishing- of 
the jail. The contract for building was 
to be closed with that bidder, who would 
construct the edifice at tire lowest charge. 
The commissioners were allowed two 
dollars, per dic/n, for superintending the 
work. The building was put up soon 
after the passage of the act and has 
proved adequate to the purposes for which 
it was designed. Occasional escapes 
have occurred, but these were more by 
the fault of locks or weak doors than by 
any insecurity in the contexture of the 
building. 

NEW COURT HOUSE. 

A while previous to the year 1S37 the 
public sentiment of the county began to 
set strongly in favor of a new Court 
House. The old building was at Nor- 
wich and the stone jail was there. It 
was therefore very naturally supposed by 
citizens at the county seat, the new Court 
House would be built upon the ruins of 
the old one. How delusive this opinion 
was, began to be known when the new 
edifice was finally determined upon by 
the people at large. An unexpected and 
very formidable competitor, for the coun- 
ty seat sprang up. This competitor was 
no other than the citizens of Oxford, who 
contended strenuously for the removal of 
the Court House to their village. The 
inhabitants of that town ; noted for their 
public spirit since the year 1794, when, 
with slender means, they established and 
maintained in the wilderness an incor- 
porated academy ; those same citizens, 
together with their descendant's, stepped 
boldly forward and, with a zeal that nev- 
er flagged, created a strong feeling in 
the public nund in favor of their claims 



to the county seat. They freely ofTered 
to erect all the necessary buildings af 
t/icir private expense. The village of 
Oxford, too, Avas shown to be only five 
miles from the central point of the coun- 
ty. Norwich was no nearer to it. In 
geographical position, neither town had 
tlie advantage. The citizens living in 
Northern Chenango, sympathized with 
the Norwegians ! The inhabitants of 
Southern Chenango, gave strong support 
to the Oxonians. One advantage Nor- 
wich had ; that was a present possession, 
confirmed by long occupancy ! The die 
for many v/eeks spun doubtful ! at 
length it turned up for Norwich. The 
members of the legislature must have 
felt relief when the controversy was put 
at rest. Each town was amply represen- 
ted in the lobbies of the legislature 
throughout this protracted struggle. As 
soon as a decision was obtained, the 
lobby members returned home : those 
from Norwich, to receive the homage, 
they well knew, was due from a grate- 
ful constituency ; and also to partake in 
the pleasures of the festive board, (to be 
got in reauiness against their arrival). — 
Great preparations were made to wel- 
come home the f^Ionorables represent- 
ing Norwich ! When their approach to 
the county seat was heralded: the citi- 
zens despatched messengers to stop them 
on the road lest they should make a sud- 
den advent into the town before arrange- 
ments for their reception were completed 
The preliminaries of the reception, at 
last adjusted, the military was next put 
into marshal array ; the citizens general- 
ly were set into civic processions. The 
veteran cavalry of the town received, 
from the president of the day, (who M'as 
likewise commander in chief on the oc- 
casion) their last orders, and set oft' in 
dense columns to meet the worthy mem- 
bers and escort them home. The vet- 
erans at a gallop passed behind the hills 
and dust clouds and were lost to view. 
But ere long distant volumes of dust, 
again obscuring the sun apprized the 
Norwegians that the cavalry, were mak- 
ing a homeward movement. Soon the 
hgrses were in view, with the honorable 



CHENANGO COUN'iT. 



55 



members in the rear of the procession. — 
Festivities were opened by the firing of 
cannon; next a dinner was eaten ; next 
speeches were made ; then toasts were 

drunk ; and — ■ here we leave the 

reader to imagine to himself what else 
occurred on this eventful day. 

The act for the erection of a new 
Court House at Norwich was passed 
through the Icgii^lature and became a 
law on the 24th of March 1837. The 
amount appropriated to build it was sev- 
en thousand dollars, out of this amount, 
which was to be collected by tax on the 
citizens of the county, no more than four- 
teen hundred dollars was to be levied in 
any one year. The treasurer of the 
county on the presentation of his bond 
to the comptroller officially executed, was 
authorized by law to draw from the 
school fund of the state, at six per cen^ 
turn of interest, the entire sum appropri 
ated, if he should deem it expedient to 
do so. The Treasurers bond was to be- 
come due in five years from its date.— 
The commissioners selected by the leg 
islaturc to superintend the construction 
were William Randall, of Norwich , 
William Knowlton, of Smithville ; E- 
rastus Lathrop. of Sherburne ; Subse- 
quently other commissioners were sub- 
stituted in place of the first ; these were 
David Griffing and Alfred Purdy, both of 
Norwich. The law ordered a sale of the 
old Court House ; and the avails to con- 
tribute towards erecting the new one. 

The Treasurer's bonds were delivered 
to the comptroller and the school monies 
drawn from the treasury and appropria- 
ted by the county. The plan of the 
building was on a costly scale, and, in 
the sequel, far out-ran the original esti- 
mate : Insomuch indeed as to require 
nine thousand dollars additional, to the 
seven thousand already appropriated to 
perfect it. 

The edifice itself is elegant ! perhaps 
the most elegant of any structure of the 
kind in the State. The outside walls 
are fabricated from rock of the grey, 
grindstone grit. The stone is artistical- 
ly chiseled into large blocks of various 
dimensions. The four, massive, white, 



Corinthian pillars, that support the front, 
projecting over the main entrance, con- 
trast agreeably with the reddish brown 
or chocolate color of the outer part of 
the house. 

The stone for building the Court House 
were excavated from a quarry purchased 
by the county, when the building was 
being constructed. It lies about four 
miles south-west of Oxford village, and 
we believe, is yet owned by the county. 
Whether it yields any revenue to the 
county, or whether the supervisors exer- 
cise any control over it, we are not in- 
formed. 

According to our estim.ates, the county 
buildings have cost, since 1798, twenty 
five thousand, three hundred dollars. 

In the interior of the present house is a 
suite of rooms in the basement story ; on 
the floor above are six rooms, devoted to 
county purposes ; above these, occupy- 
ing the entire upper part of the house, is 
the spacious Court Room. 

The room is not constructed in harmo- 
ny with the principles of acoustics. 
At least, it is so said by many. The 
speakers voice, except when the assem- 
blage is dense, reverberates and mocks 
him with embarrassing exactness. 

Members of Congress have found 
the same difllcuily existing in their hall 
at Washington. The new speaker re- 
hears much he says echoing back upon 
him in a strain of ludicrous and perplex- 
ing mimicry. The speaker of Congress 
too often hears a whisper in the distant 
galleries, when he cannot understand 
the loud tone of some member near by. 
Perhaps the court-room is not more ob- 
jectionable on this account than large 
rooms generally. While upon this sub- 
ject we cannot forbear to mention a se- 
rious defect in the disposition of the 
jurors seats. They are too low by 16 
or 20 inches. Ow'ing to their arrange- 
ment, the jury frequently complain to 
the witness, they do not hear him, when 
he is audible to the counsel and the 
Court.' A cheap platform would remedy 
this evil and contribute to the comfort 
of the jury. By the present arrange- 
ment, when the judge charges the jury 



^ 



HISTORY OF 



we are reminded of a person at the 
head of a flight of steps addressing 
anotlier in a cellar. Iti some of the 
Stales jurors have been allowed desks 
in front of their seats with pen, ink and 
paper; that privilege has never been ac- 
corded fheui in this State. They are 
expected to rely on their memory in 
the longest cause. 

In June 1810 Smith Thompson Esq., 
presided over the first Circuit Court that 
was held in Norwich village. The year 
the Court House was completed (1S09,) 
the Circuit Court was held at North 
Norwich. In June of this last men- 
tioned year the Court of Common Pleas 
was held in the new court room in Nor- 
wich. It was the first court of record 
that ever assembled at the present 
county seat. 

The most remarkable trial that has 
taken place in the county occurred in 
the year 1812. An indictment against 
Gen. David Thomas, State Treasurer, 
was called up for trial by the prosecu- 
ting attorney of the county. The charge 
in the bill was analledged attempt on 
the part of Gen. Thomas to bribe a 
member of the State Senate from this 
count}'. This effort to corrupt a repre- 
sentative was charged to have trans- 
pired in Norwich village; the venue of 
course came to this county. The charge 
itself, involving the public and private 
iiitegrity of a distinguished functionary 
of government, was sufficient to assem- 
ble a large body of citizens from every 
quarter, at the county seat. Add to this 
circumstance the mixing up of political 
considerations with the case, and the 
reader will at once understand why it was 
that a more numerous audience, by far, 
were gathered into Norwich to witness 
these proceedings, than has ever asseni' 
bled in the county at any of the Courts 
convened, before or since this memora- 
ble trial. 

On the bench sat the distinguished 
William P. Van Ness as presiding 
judge of the Oyer «5c Terminer. Within 
the bar, before the judge, was seated 
Thomas Addis Emmet the Attorney- 



General of the state ; sent hither to 
conduct the prosecution. Near Mr. 
Emmet was sealed Messrs Foot and 
Elisha Williams, retained by the pris- 
oner to conduct the defence. Then 
there were (besides these eminent law- 
yers.) numerous side counsel. It is 
unnecessary to observe, this was per- 
haps the most brilliant array of counsel 
that has ever appeared in our county. 
The admirers of Mr. Emmet regarded 
him, in his life lime, as second to none 
of his countrymen, excepting Edmund 
Burke. In the zenith of his fame, Em- 
met was a consummate logician. His 
rhetoric was illumined by an intellectual 
armory, containing every species of most 
highly tempered weapons, consisting of 
wit, humor, sarcasm and pathos, which 
he brandished with alarming effect 
whenever he had occasion to use them. 
He convinced and fascinated at the 
same moment. He hud just enough of 
the native Irish accent, indellibly im- 
printed in his speech to awaken curiosi- 
ty and fix attention upon whatever he 
had to say. 

The adventures and miijfortunes, too, 
of Mr. Emmet, and the still greater ca- 
lamity that befel his brother, rendered 
hi:5 very name an object of interest ev- 
ery where. Mr. Williams, in head and 
heart and legal attainments, was a 
competitor, worthy of Emmet. Like 
Mr. Emmet, he was easy, graceful, dig- 
nified, natural in private life and whol- 
ly unpretending. Neither of these great 
men aspired to eloquence in ordinary 
affairs. It was only in moments of ex- 
citement, when great interests were at 
stake, that their dormant powers of ora- 
tory were aroused. They might be 
termed sleepers, that were subject to 
tremenduous awakenings. Envy, at 
each oiher.s great reputation, possessed 
neither of them. They are said (like 
all men of genius) to have held each 
ether in warm esteem ; bordering on ad- 
miration. 

The following extract from the New 
York Sunday Times warrants what we 
affirm. 

" In the case of the People against 




.ctJ^J^ 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



S7 



William and Peter Smith printers for 
conspiring- against Abraham Paul an- 
■ other primer," there was for the people 
I Messrs. !!Max\vell, Caines and Emmet ; 
and fortlie defendants Wm. M, Price, 
Slosson, and Elijha Williams. 

Of Mr. Williams, Major Noah 
says: — "In addition to a fine com- 
manding figure, a pleasant face, and a 
clear toned silver voice, he was distin- 
\ guished by great forensic abilities and 
was neatly omnipotent before a jury. — 
In closing his remarks to ihe jury in 
this case he made the following allu- 
sion to Mr. Emmet, exhibiting the ex- 
alted estimation in which he held him. 

" Gentlemen,! cannot conclude wiih- 
oiit cautioning you against the power- 
ful reasoning and eJoquenceof my learn- 
ed friend. I know that he will make.a 
powerful appeal to you against my 
clients. He will attack your passions 
and steal your hearts ; he will knock at 
the door of your understanding and gain 
an entrance. How many men hav^; 
suffered by his powers, how many his 
eloquence has sent to your prisons, God 
only knows. I hope they were guilty. 
I have met him on trials, and know his 
talents. He destroys my arguments, 
he carries awny mv juries, and he con- 
victs my clients. Let tne caution vou 
against the irresistible force of his elo- 
quence." 

Such was Thom.as Addis Emmet. 

Since the death of Mr. Enirnct in 
(1827) his life by Dr. R. R. Madden has 
appeared ; the trial of Gen. Thomas is 
alluded to as having fully called out 
the best powers of the attorney general. 
If we are to credit the Doctor, who is 
an Irishman, Mr. Foote was associated 
with Mr. Williams for no creditable 
purpose. The Doctor thus speaks of 
Mr. Foote. 

" In the year 1312 Mr. Emmet re- 
paired to tlie county of Chenango, to 
try an indictment for an attempt to pro- 



cure the vote of a member of the Sen- 
ate by bribery and corruption. He was 
then attorney general, a:id the proceed- 
ing excited strong party feelings. Eli- 
sha Williams and Mr. Foote, for- 
merly an eminent counsellor and advo- 
cate, residing in Albany, were opposed 
to him. The latter had his task assign- 
ed him — lie was to brow beat Mr. Em- 
met. In discharge of this duty, he sta- 
ted among other things, that Mr. Em- 
mets promotion to the office of attorney 
general was the reward of party efforts, 
and that in conducting this prosecution, 
he was doing homage for that office. — 
Mr. Foote gained nothing by his as- 
saults. When ;!\Ir. Emmet came to this 
part of his speech, he stated the accusa- 
tion as It had been made by his oppo- 
nent, and replied, " it i=? false and he 
knew it. The office which I have the 
honor to hold, is the reward of useful 
days and sleepless nights, devoted to 
the acquisition and exercise of my pro- 
fession ; and of a life of unspotted in- 
tegrity, claims and qualifications which 
that gentleman can never put forth for 
any office humble or exalted." 

On the trial many v/itnesses were erv-- 
ammed ; numerous documents produc- 
ed and read in evidence. The jury 
that adjudged the General are some of 
them now living. But most of them, 
like the other actors in the case, the 
judge, the counsel, the prisoner and 
prosecutor, have passed away. The ju- 
rors were Asa Sheldon, Benjamin Ed- 
monds, Oliver Richmond Jr., Marcena 
Allen, Nathan Philips, John Simmons, 
Smith Bradley, Henry Manwarring, 
David Foulior, Roswell Darrow, Eze- 
kiel Peck and Miles Curtis. 

The trial occupied about fifty hours 
and resulted favourably to the accused. 
It was a case that created great inter- 
est in this county, but not any greater 
than iii almost every section of ths' 
state. 



HISTORY OF 



THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS. 

The first Court of common Pleas that 
was held in Chenango County, was con- 
vened at the school house in Hamilton 
near the residence of Elisha Payne in 
June 1798. 

The Presiding Judges were, 

Isaac Foote, Joab Enos, Joshua Le- 

LAND. 

The assistant Justices were, 

Oliver Norton and Elisha Payne. 

Before the year 1818, the reader will 
bear in mind, the court of Common 
Pleas was composed of Judges and as- 
sistant Justices ; all appointed by the 
council of appointment. After 1818 the 
associate justices office was abolished 
by law and the common Pleas was con- 
stituted of Judges only, and those not 
exceeding five in number. 

The court was opened by proclama- 
tion. The first business transacted be- 
fore the court was the entry of an order 
that Thomas R. Gold, Joseph Kirkland, 
Nathan Williams, Stephen O. Runyon, 
Nathaniel King, Arthur Breese, Peter 
B. Garnsey, and Medad Curtis be ad- 
mitted to practice as attorneys and coun- 
sellors of the court. Five civil causes 
were tried at this term of the court. — 
The court passed rules to regulate the 
practice of the tribunal and adjourned. 

At the second term of the court, there 
were present besides the Judges already 
named, John Lincklaen of Cazenovia, 
and Benjamin Hovey of Oxford both of 
whom took seats on the bench as associ- 
ate Judges. This court was convened 
at Oxford village October 1798. At this 
term of the court also on the application 
of Peter B. Garnsey Esq., General 
Erastus Root was admitted a counsellor 
of the court. In July 1799 Joel Thomp- 
son and Gershom Hyde took their seats 
on the bench as assistant justices. 

In July 1800 Jonathan Forman went 
upon tjie bench as associate Judge. Isaac 
Foote was appointed first or presiding 
Judge of the court in the same year. — 
In 1801 Stephen Hoxie was appointed 
assistant justice. General Obadiah 
German and Jeremiah Whipple took their 



seats upon the bench as judges of the 
court at the July term 1804. At the 
October term of the court in the same 
year Caspar M. Rouse and Abner Pur- 
ely, the father of the Hon. Smith M. Pur- 
dy, and of Alfred Purdy, went upon the 
bench as assistant justices. Judge Purdy 
held his appointment until 1812 or eight 
years, during which time he was unusu- 
allv punctual in his attendance. 

in October 180-5 Thomas Lyon Jr. 
took his seat on the bench as associate 
Judge. Samuel Payne and Nathaniel 
Medbury appeared at this term of the 
court as assistant justices and took seats 
upon the bench. 

In the year 1807 Peter Betts went up- 
on the bench as associate judge. 

In January 1808 Joel Thompson Esq. 
presided as first judge of the court and 
held this position for several years. The 
January term of the court was the first 
term of the common Pleas held at North 
Norwich. At the June term of the 
court held in the year 1809 at the pre- 
sent village of Norwich, for the first 
time, Anson Gary and Caspar M. Rouse 
Esqs. took their seats upon the bench as 
associate judges. In the year 1810 
William McCalpin, Tracy Robinson, 
Nathaniel Waldron and Elisha Smith 
went on to the bench as associate judg- 
es. In 1811 Ebenezer Wakely was 
appointed judge. 

In the year 1813 John Gray Jr. and 
Asa Norton took seats upon the bench as 
associate judges of the court. John S. 
Flagler and Joel Hatch Avent on the 
bench at this same sitting of the court 
as assistant justices. 

In the year 1814 General Obadiah 
German presided as first judge of the 
common Pleas, and Obadiah Sands took 
his place on the bench as associate 
judge. In October of the same year 
Samuel Campbell Esq. sat as associate 
judge and also John S, Flagler. John 
Twichell and Chester Hammond assis- 
tant Justices. 

In the year 1815 Nathaniel Waldron 
took his seat as associate Judge of the 
court. In the same year at the June 
term of the court, Caspar M. Rouse, 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



59 



Isac Sherwood and John Noyes (senior) 
Esquires took seats upon the bench as 
associate judges. 

In June 1816 Tilly Lynde became 
judge of the same court. In October 
of the same year Barnabas Brown also 
went upon the bench as associate Judge. 

In February 1817 Charles Josselyn 
was appointed associate Judge of the 
court. 

In October 1819 Uri Tracy took his 
seat as first judge of the county. Mr. 
Tracy was first judge for several years. 

In' February 1822, Nathan Taylor 
went upon the bench as associate judge. 
In June of the same year Levi Bigelow 
was elevated to the bench. 

In October, 1824, the Hon. John Tra- 
cy took his seat upon the bench as first 
judge of the court. 

In the year, 1829, Hezekiah Reade 
went upon the bench as associate judge. 

In the year 1831, Charles York took 
his seat as judge in the same court, 

In the year, 1833, the Hon. Smith M. 
Purdy presided as first judge of the com- 
mon Pleas. 

In the year 1837 Samuel McKoon 
and Joshua Lamb took their seats as 
judges of the court. Levi Bigelow took 
his seat in this year as first Judge of 
the court. 

In October, 1838, Solomon Ensign 
took his seat as associate judge. 

In October, 1841, Philo Robinson 
took his seat as associate judge. 

In June, 1843, Roswell Judson Esq., 
went upon the bench as first judge of 
the court. In the same year Austin 
Hyde and Adam Storing took their seats 
upon the bench in the same court. 

In June, 1846, Erastus Dickinson 



took his seat upon the bench as associ- 
ate judge. Mr. Dickinson Avas the last 
judge appointed imder the constitution 
of 1821. Roswel Judson Esq., was 
presiding judge of the court until it went 
out of existence by constitutional enact- 
ments. In the present county court, the 
successor to the court of common Pleas, 
the Hon. Smith M. Purdy presided as 
judge having been chosen at the first 
election of county judges, to sit on the 
bench for four years. His present term 
of office expires in about twenty months 
from May ISoO. Harvey Hubbard and 
Francis E. Dimmick are the associate 
justices in the county court. 

The foregoing catalogue of the judi. 
cial officers of the former common Pleas 
and of the present county court is taken 
from the county clerks minute books 
and is thought to include most, if not 
all of the judges of these courts as well 
as the assistant justices of the common 
Pleas. It was impossible to ascertain 
the dates of appointments ; but it is be- 
lieved that every judge appeared on 
the bench soon after his commission was 
received. 

General Obadiah German, Joel 
Thompson, Uri Tracy and John Linck- 
laen of Cazenovia, once filled a large 
space in the public eye. Judges Smith 
and Noyes, too, in their time, were men 
of rank and consideration among their 
fellow citizens. Caspar M. Rouse, in 
his life, held many public stations from 
Judge to State Senator. Others of the 
early judges are men of distinction both 
in the county and state, but as they yet 
live and move with influence among us, 
we forbear further remarks. 



^0 



lilSTOKY OF 



THE EARLY LAWYERS OF CHE- 
NANGO. 



We arc not advised of the precise 
date when our early lawyers received 
their licences to practice as attorneys and 
counoollors in the Supreme court of tiie 
state J nor are Ave bettor prepared to inform 
the reader oi' the exact month or year 
when they came to reside in the county. 
But by reference to the cotirt-roll, of the 
former court of common Pleas, we are 
enabled to arrive at an approximation to 
the time when they came on the Starve. 
When attorneys were licensed to prac- 
tice before the court of common Pleas they 
took the oath of ollice and inscribed thciV 
names on the roll, kept for this jiurpose. 
Attorneys residing in the county, gen- 
erally applied to the court of common 
Pleas for admission soon after they were 
licensed to practice in the Supreme court. 
Sometimes again individuals were li- 
censed by the county judges, to appear 
in the common Fleas" b(^fore they had ta- 
ken their diplomas in the Supreme court. 
The first name entered on the attorneys 
roll in the court of (common Pleas is Pe- 
ter B. Garnsey. Mr. Garnsey was 
admitted to practice t,o carlv as June 12, 
170S. 

Stephen 0. Kunyan was also admit- 
ted on the same day. 

Sherman Page was licensed in this 
court on the fifth day of Julv in the 
year 1S04. 

Henry VanDerlyn was admitted in 
the same court June tenth 1806. James 
Birdsall was admitted October fifteenth 
in the same year. 

David Buttolph was licensed June fif- 
teenth in the year 1S03. 

James Clapp was licensed in this court 
on the eleventh day of October ISOS.— 
William M. Price "was licensed at the 
same time. 

Robert Monell was admitted January 
eleventh in the year 1S09. John Tracy 
was admitted on the fifteenth day of 
June in the same year. James W. 



\ Gazlee was also licensed to practice on 
the s;ixteenth day of June in liiis year. 

Willard Welton was admitted to 
practice as an attorney in this court on 
the ninth of October in the year IrflO. 

Simon Gager Throop was admitted 
on the twclfili day of June in the year 
1811. Lyman S. Kexford Avas licensed 
to practice on the ninth chiy oi' October 
in the same year. 

Noah Ely was admitted to practice be- 
fore the court on the fourteenth day of 
January IS 12. 

Samuel Birdsall was made a praction- 
er of the court on the thirteenth October 
in the year 1813. Nathan Chambcrlin 
was likewise admitted on the t>ame day 
and same year. 

John C. Clark became an attorney of 
this court on the thirteenth day of Febru- 
ary in the year 1816. 

Hiram Carter received his license on 
the fourteenth of October in the year 
1817. 

Simeon S. Emmons was admitted Oc- 
tober thirteenth in the year 1815. 

Lot Clark was admitted to practice in 
the common Pleas on the eleventh day 
of June 1816. He also received a li- 
cense to practice in the Supreme court 
in the latter part of May, in iho 
same year. 

John Birdsall was admitted to this 
court February ninth in the year 1819. 

Samuel I\liles Tracy was admitted 
to practice October thirteenth in the year 
1818. 

Smith M. Purdy was licensed to prac- 
tice in this court on the tenth of Febru- 
ary 1819. Abial Cook was admitted 
to practice before the court on the eighth 
day of January in the same year. 

Charles A. Thorp was admitted to 
practice in the common Pleas on the 
twelfth day of October 1820. 

Addison C. Griswold was admitted to 
practice in the common Pleas on the 
eighth of October 1822. John Clapp 
was admitted on the tenth of October 
in the same year. 



CHENANGO COUNTY 



61 



MODERN LAWYERS. 

We find no roll among the county ar- 
chives from tjie year 1822 up to 1829. — 
Nor do Ave find many names in the le- 
gal profesL^ion wanting in our list hy 
reason of the ahsence of the roll. Few 
adn^issions to the har of the Common 
Pleas were made in the course of 'these 
six years. 

Samuel S. Randall was admitted to 
practice in the common i-'leus on ihe || 
nmth of February in the year 1831. 

Henry Bennett was admitted on the 
fifteenth of January in the year 1832. 

Daniel S. Dickinson was admitted to 
practice in tliis court on the ninth of 
June in the year 1829. 

Arha K. Maynard and Samuel Mc- 
Koon were admitted to practice before 
the court on the twelfth dav of June 
1832. 

William S. Sayre Avas admitted on 
the twelfth of February 1833. Henry 
R. Mygaltwas admitlcd on the four- 
teenth of the same month and in the 
same year. Asher C. Moses was admit- 
ted on the same day and year. Benja- 
min F. Kexford was also admitted June 
twelfth in the same year. 

Joseph Benedict was admitted Feb- 
ruary eleventh in the year 1S34. George 
M. Smith on the eleventh of June in 
the same year. Samuel B. Garvin on 
the fifteenth of October in the same 
year. 

Roswell Judson was admitted on the 
tenth day of June in the year 1835. — 
Philander B. Prindle was admitted on 
the thirteenth day of February in the 
same year. Robert O. Reynolds and 
Daniel Gray were admitted on the sev- 
enteenth of October in the same year. 

John Wait was admitted on the tenth 
day of February 1836. Mr. Wait we 
believe was licensed in the Supreme 
court in the fall of 183-5. Isaac Bush 
was admitted on the seventeenth day of 
June 1836. 

Alonzo Johnson was admitted on the 
sixteenth day of February 1837. Eras- 
tus Foote on the 9th dav of October in 



llie same year. Cyrus Strong Jr. on the 
twell'th of October in the same year. 

Ira P. liarnes was admitted on the 
thirteenth of June, and H. O. South- 
worth on the fifteenth of October in the 
year 1839. 

The foregoing completes the list of 
attorneys that have jn-actised in tho 
common Pleas court from the year 1 798. 
when tlie county was organized, down 
to tile year IbiU. 



Ambrose L. Jordan read law in Nor- 
wich village with James Birdsall, but 
was not admitted to practice in the coun- 
ty; before completing his; studies, he re- 
moved to Cooperstown where he after- 
wards established himself in practice. 

William M. Price did not remain 
many years in Chenango. After leav- 
ing his partner, Mr. James Clapp, he 
removed to New York City where his 
attainments gave him a high position at 
the bar. He afterwards was elevated 
to the station of United States District 
attorney, for the district comprising the 
city of New York. During the specu- 
lation madness that pervaded the United 
States in 1836, (ever a memorable year!) 
Mr Price embarked the government 
funds deposited in his charge in haz- 
ardous private adventures and lost them, 
and, with them, his hitherto unblemish- 
ed reputation. He sailed clandestinely 
to Europe, where he remained, until the 
storm of public and political indignation 
had somewhat abated. He again re- 
turned to the city, that had so often wit- 
nessed his forensic triumphs and had al- 
ways appreciated his fine talents. 

Once more he opened an office and 
appeared before the court with much of 
his former success : But the rebukes of 
some old friends and the treachery of 
others, who took advantage of his em- 
barrassed situation, so wounded hi.s 
pride, that, in a fit of despondency, he 
put an end to his existence. The fol- 
lowing brief notice of Mr. Price, from 
the pen of Major M. M. Noah, written 



HISTORY OF 



on the occasion of his death, finds an 
appropriate place in the history : 

'* The father of Mr. Price was a rich 
man, and gave him a good educiuion, 
and he liad the best opportunities and 
facilities of rising in his profession in 
this city, but he chose the country as the 
best held for preparation; and alter he 
was admitted to the bar lie prepared a 
wagon and horse, and packed up his 
iaw library, and uith his partner, Mr. 
Clapp — both young adventurers went in- 
to the interior of tliis state to seek their 
fortunes and stopped at various villages 
which exhibited an opening for young- 
beginners. Journeying this way, early 
one summer evening they entered the 
village of Oxford, in Chenango county. 
The beauty of its position, the neatness 
of the place, and the substantial air of 
comfort which presented itself in every 
direction, determined them to make that 
town their residence ; so bargaining with 
a milliner to surrender a small but neat 
building in the heart of the village, they 
unloaded the wagon of their books, 
chairs, desks, &c., arranged everything 
in order in the new office, and nailed up 
their sign on the window as the shades 
of night set in. The next morning at 
daybreak, seated at tlie door of iheirnew 
habitation, they saw approaching a citi- 
zen, whose appearance denoted that he ' 
was a distinguished personage in the 
village. This gentleman was indeed 
the largest land-owner in Oxford. He 
stopped, read the sign on the Avindow, 
looked at the young lawyers, and 
said — 

" Whence came you, gentlemen — for 
you were not here when I took my af- 
ternoon walk yesterday?" 

Being informed by the emigrants of 
their views and objects he said — 

"I like this enterprise, and you shall 
have my law business." 

The first case that Mr. Price had be- 
fore a justice of the peace he broke 
down, but rallied, persevered and became 
a very popuhir lawyer, and in good 
business. Happy it would have been 
for him if he had never left Oxford, — 
His partner continued there, and we be- 



lieve to this day is a man of fortune and 
eminence in his profession." 

AVe understand the gentleman refer- 
red to was Judge Benjamin Hovey at 
the time a prominent citizen of Oxford. 
Daniel S. Dickinson is a native of 
Goshen, Litchfield comity, Connecticut. 
At the age of six years he removed, with 
his father in the town of Guilford, iu 
tliis county. He remained at home with 
his father upon a farm hard at work most 
of the time, until he was thirty years of 
age. What little space he was absent, 
he engaged in an employment, whicii 
most self educated men in the nortliern 
states, who pursue a professional career 
are compelled at some time to embark 
in, that is School-teaching. 

He conducted a school in the west un- 
til he had assisted himself to sufficient 
funds to perfect (by practicing a rigid 
economy) his legal studies. He read 
law in the office of Messrs. Clark and 
Clapp, counsellors, practicing in those 
days, at the county seat. About the 
year 1S32 he removed to the village of 
Binghamton, where he very soon attain- 
ed a high position in his profession. — 
Like all self formed characters, Mr. 
Dickinson is distinguished for decision 
and firmness. His early struggle a- 

j gaiijst adverse circumstances seem to 

I have nerved up his will beyond succum- 
bing to opposition from any quarter. — 
The first political station he occupied, 
we think, Avas a seat in the state Senate. 
Here ho had a memorable intellectual 
tourney with Col. Samuel Young. Mr. 
D■cki^;.^on's political friends next advanc- 
ed him to a seat in the United States 

j Senute, a station he yet retains. 

i Johfi Birdsall immigrated into Che- 
nango from one of the Eastern counties. 
He \v as young when he first made his 
appeavance. He studied law with James 
Biiai,all Esq., a relative. Judge Smith 
M. Purdy, w'e believe, was pursuing le- 
gal studies in the office of Mr. Birdsall 
at the same time. From Norwich he 
removed to Greene in this county. From 
thence he migrated to Lockport in 
western New York, He was, ere long, 
elevated to the Supreme Court bench as 




.^-^L^-Z^^-i 



^^. 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



63 



circuit Judge in the eighth district. — 
From this post he went into the Senate 
fro)n the same district. He removed from 
Lockport to Chatauque county, where 
he married his second wife. Subse- 
quently he emigrated into the state (then 
Republic) of Texas. On his arrival 
thither, he was appointed attornsy-Gen- 
cral and died suddenly vvhile performing 
the duties of the office. The shining 
talents of Mr. Birdsall called out admi- 
ration from every quarter where he was 
known. The political history of New 
York speaks of his intellectual powers 
in very flattering terms. Ey nature of 
a bilious habit, his removal into 'die west 
aggravated a constitutional hypochon- 
dria, that beset him. Dyspeptic affec- 
tions finally set in with such unremitting 
violence, as at times, to disqualify him 
for either mental or physical exertion, 
Dewitt Clinton warmly appreciated the 
abilities of Mr. B. became his early 
friend and contributed, much to assist 
liim into public notice. Chenango has 
sent forth able men who have v/on a 
high fame in other parts of the world. 
Some of them may have lieen equal to 
jMr- Birdsall! none of them were his su- 
periors I 

Samuel Bostioick Garvin is the son of 
an Episcopalian clergyman (now de- 
ceased.) The father was a fine linguist 
and spared no labour to educate his son. 
The old gentleman's means were too 
slender to afford his children an outfit in 
llie world; but he gave them a sound 
education and cultivated their moral na- 
tures, which, so far as society is inter- 
ested, is much better than wealth. Mr. 
(rarvin finished his law clerkship with 
John Clapp. He remained a while in 
Norwich, then removed to Sherburne 
and from thence to Utica; where he 
enjoys a lucrative practice. 

Joseph Benedict, the author of "Bene- 
dict's Treatise," removed from Sher- 
burne to Utica Avith Mr. Garvin and 
opened an office in company with him. 
Mr. Benedict has won a reputation for 
industry and skill in his profession. 



SHERIFFS OF CHENANGO COXJATY. 

The office of Sheriff is of great anti- 
quit}^ running back as far as a thonsamd 
years in England. The duties ©f the 
office have changed at different Epochasj 
yet its identity in this era of the world,, 
is sufficiently establishf^d to mark it as 
the same that existed even in barbarous- 
times. In England, sheriffs have more 
extervsive powers than ia this country. — 
In the United States the Sheriff is, in 
some instances, a judicial as well as a 
ministerial personage. He is the law 
officer of the courts and as sach executes 
their mandates, enforces process and 
has the custody of the county prisons. — 
The High- Sheriff of New York is an 
official iDut little inferior to the city May- 
or. His responsibilities are great and 
many dignities attach to his station. — 
The'higii-Sheriff of London is of still 
greater consideration in the public esti- 
mation than the Sheriff of New York. — 
Under the constitution of the state, 
adopted in the year 1777, the office of 
Sheriff was filled by a nominee selected 
! by the council of appointment. The 
i only limitation of the appointing power 
[ was a prohibition contained in the con- 
, stitution, disallowing of placing the 
same person in this office for a longer 
I period than four years successively. The 
(Sheriff was appointed annually; if the 
officer already occupying the post was 
i continued, a new commission was made 
I out, forwarded to him and he performed 
I anew all of the ceremonies of installa- 
I tion required on his first induction into 
! the office ; that is to say ; he took the 
oath of allegiance and the oath of office 
— two distinct oaths. 

It was many years ago, the custom to 
exact from public oflicers a general oath 
trust. The oath was much the same as 
that required from foreigners now as a 
condition prelijtninary to naturalization 
and citizenship. 

of abjurationofallt^gianceto all powers^ 
Kingdoms and principalities except the 



64 



HISTORY OF 



coiitiiuoii pru'liininary to naturalization 
and citizensliip. 

The .Slierill was once an ofilcer held 
in great respect by the citizens of this 
county. He arranged al! the ceremo- 
nials of the coLirt. He formally an- 
nnniiced to the judges the particular 
hour the court room was in order for 
their reception. He was also equipped 
with side arms and kept his sword of office 
unsheathed on the desk in front of his 
seat. He with his deputies in charge, 
formally inducted the judges from their 
lodgings to the court room ; the jurors 
closing the procession. He opened the 
court by solemn proclamation. In 
every respect the ofliee of sherifi' was 
once of more iuiport in the public 
estimation than now. 

The first sheriff of the county was 
Uri Tracy c-f Oxford, who subscribed 
to his oath of office and entered upon its 
duties in April 1793; this was about one 
month after the county was organized. 
Mr. Tracy fulfilled the lucrative duties 
of his station until the month of Sep- 
tember ]SOl when }ie retired. The 
office was profitable, because the coun- 
ty was, before 1S06, over fifty miles in 
length and the travel fee=! of the office 
were liberal and the ride extensive. 

On the lOih of September 1801 Na- 
thaniel Lock superceded Mr. Tracy, 
who was now approaching the fourth 
year of holding, wiiich was the liniita- 
tion fixed by the constitution of 1777. 
Mr. Lock continued to fill the station 
until the year ISOo, when he gave 
place to Anson Gary, who occupied 
the post until the year 1808, May 6, 
when he in turn gave way to William 
Monroe, who held the office through 
the year 1S09 and was superseded bv 
Isaac Foote in the year 1810. Mr. Foote 
was again succeeded by LVIr. Monroe in 
the year 1811 and again gave way to 
Mr. Fooiein 1813. Samuel Campbell 
.succeeded Mr. Foote in 1815, and he 
atrain was succeeded by Mr. Monroe in 
1819. 

In the year 18-21 Mr. 'i\Ionroe was 
succeeded by Thomfson MEAni:. yiv. 
Meade was the last nppointee under tlv? 



council of appointm-^nt. The constitu- 
tion of 1821 superceded that of 1777; 
after this the office of sheriil' became 
elective and Mr. Meade was the first 
sheriff of the county elected by the 
people. He was elected for three 
years and retired in 1825 to make room 
for Samuel A. Smith who held the 
office until 1829, when Augustus 0. 
Welch was elected his successor. 

Mr. Welch retired in 1831, and was 
succeeded by A>:os A. Franklin. In 
the year 1834 Mr. Franklin's term ex- 
pired, and Jabez Kobi.nson took the oath 
of office and continued until 1837; 
when William Hatch entered upon 
the office. Mr. Hatch retired in 1840 
to make room for Enos S. Halbert. 

The later sheriffs are Joseph P. 
Chamberlin, William Church and Le- 
vi H. Case. Bv the terms of the con- 
stitution of 1821, Sheriffs could hold 
no other office, and were ineligible to 
the same office, for three years after 
the expiration of their term. The 
sheriff was made ineligible to office 
to take away all inducesnent to the 
prostitution of his official station, to 
secure a re-eiection. 

The sheriff is amenable to removal 
by the Governor for mal-versations ia 
office. Ciovernor Seward once exer- 
cised this prerogative in one of the 
eastern counties. 

COUNTY CLERICS. 

When this county was set apart from 
Herkimer and Tioga counties, the pub- 
lic Records were kept at Oazenovia. The 
first clerk of the county was Sidney S. 
Breese of that place. Mr. Breese was 
also a lawyer .He held the post under an 
appointment from the council of appoint- 
ment until September 1801, when Uri 
Tracy was noniinated as his successor. 
Mr. Tracy continued to perform the du- 
ties of the office for some year.3. In Ju- 
ly 1815, he gave wav to the appoint- 
ment of David G. Bright, who Avas 
clerk of the county until August 1819; 
when he was succeeded by Perez Ran- 
dall will* in turn wa.-^ pupprsedf^d bv 
Naflian Ch-nraberlin in June 1820. 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



65 



' Mr. C hamberlin continued to perform 
the duties of the office for a few montlis, 
when he resigned, and the council of 
appointment put in his place Doct. Wil- 
liam Mason of Preston, a member of 
Assembly belonging to the political par- 
ty opposed to the council that appointed 
him- The Doctor accepted the appoint- 
ment and made Perez Randall his depu- 
ty to perform all the duties and receive 
the emoluments of the office. Very 
Soon after the appointment was made, 
a council, of friendly politics, came in 
and Doct. Mason resigned in favor of 
Mr. Kandali who was formally appoint- 
ed clerk on the 23 Feb. 1821." Mr. Ran- 
dall continued clerk, by appointment un- 
til the constitution of 1821 vv-ent into 
operation. He was then re-elected by 
the people and again elected at the 
expiration of every third year until the 
fall of 1831 when he was defeated by 
a political opponent in the person of 
Jarvis K. Pike, now a resident of the 
state of Wisconsin. 

Mr. Randall was once more the success- 
ful candidate for the office in the fall of 
1834. He was again re-elected in tne 
year 1837, and died universally respect- 
ed and universally mourned, very early 
in the spring of 1839, while an incum- 
bent of the office. To serve out the re- 
mainder of the term made vacant, by 
the decease of Mr. Randall; the Gov- 
ernor appointed Cyrus Wheeler who was 
inducted into office on the first of April, 
1839. 

Alfred Purdy was elected in the place 
of Mr. Wheeler in 1839, and after serv- 
ing a three years term, was succeeded 
by John Latham, who was succeeded by 
Burr B. Andrf'Vv-s ; who gave place to 
Nelson Pellett elected at the presidential 
election in ISIS, and who is the present 
incumbent. 



DISTRICT ATTORNEY. 

The office of public prosecutor for 
counties is derived from English custom, 
and has existed in this state since its 
earliest organization. The districts in 
which these officers prosecute criminals, 
in behalf of the people, have varied in 
extent at different periods. In primitive 
times, or before the constitution of 1821, 
one officer was papointed for many coun- 
ties. 

Thomas Gold of Oneida was the first 
district attorney appointed for this coun- 
ty; his circuit extended from Utica to 
Binghamton, perhaps farther. He was 
styled "District Attorney General," — 
Nathan Williams succeeded Mr. Gold 
in 1802. He was also officially known 
by the appellation of DislricL Attorney 
General. Nicholas King was district at- 
torney after Mr. Williams in 1811. — 
Daniel Kellogg was district attorney for 
Chenango in the year 1S15. Joseph 
L.Richardson was district attorney in 
1816 and continued for some years to 
fill the office. S. Gagers Throop was 
district attorney in 1821 and was suc- 
ceeded in, 1822, by Lot Clark. Mr. 
Clark gave way, in October, 1823, to 
John C. Clark, who held the oflice until 
1827. Robert Monell was district at- 
torney in 1828. Lot Clark next filled 
the post and was succeeded by John 
Clapp in 1829 or 1830. Mr. Clapp con- 
tinued in the office until his removal to 
Binghamton in the year 1841. 

The successor of Mr. Clapp was Geo. 
M. Smith who occupied it until the ap- 
pointment of Robert O.lReynolds. Af- 
ter Mr. Reynold's term expired Mr. 
Smith was re-appointed and continued 
until the office until the former consti- 
tution expired. 

Before 1821 the office was filled by 



66 



HISTOKY OF 



the council of appointment. After the 
constitution of 1821, the judges of the 
Common Pleas appointed district attor- 
nies for the county. 

By the constitution of 1S46, the of- 
fice was made elective. At the tivi^t ju- 
dicial election, under the latter constitu- 
tion, James M. Banks of Bainhridge 
was the successful candidate. He is 
the present incumbent. 

GRAND JURORS. 

The grand inquest of the county 
convened at Oxford, for the first time, 
at the sitting of the circuit court in that 
village on the tenth of July 1798. 

The jurors names wcreEphraimFitch, 
Samuel Kimball, Wareham French, 
Jonathan Bush, Samuel Carewe, Samu- 
el Curtis, Frederick Bacon, William 
McCalpin, James Bennett. David White, 
John McNeal, Francis Brissee, Elihu 
Murray, William Bennett, Luther Tal- 
madge, Ephraim Fisk, Thomas Havens, 
Benjamin Ketcham, Richard Wanie, 
Dedimus Kenny Jr. 

Thompson Meade was fined three 
dollars at this session of the covrt for 
non-attendance as constable. 

CRLMINAL CALENDAR. 

For some years the criminal calandar 
of the county was small and the crimes 
committed were of a trifling nature. — 
Occasionally, serious offences were per- 
petrated and the punishment following 
conviction, was incommensurately light. 
One criminal convicted of an attempted 
ravishment was sentenced io four months 
confinement in the county jail and at 
the expiration of the sentence was or- 
dered to find two sureties, in one hun- 
dred dollars each to keep the peace with 
all citizens, but toward the complainant 
in particular. 

The person convicted of petit theft 
was sentenced to pay twenty shillings 
fine. Another culprit was mulcted by 
the court to the amount of three dollars, 
for assault and battery ; the fine to help 
defray the expenses of the prosecution. 
There may have been two causes for 
these unusually li^lit inflictions by the 
courts. The one, the rare occurrence of 



crime ; the other, the want of a conve- 
nient jail. Light fines could be paid, 
while heavy ones, extending beyond the 
means of the culprit, involved the coun- 
ty in expense to defray long and tedious 
journeys to the Whitestown prison. 

There have been seven or eight trials 
for murder in the county, and several 
capital convictions. But one execution, 
however, has taken place since the coun- 
ty was organized. In 1809 a conviction 
for murder occurred at a circuit court 
held in the old meeting house at North 
Norwich. The sentence being after- 
wards disaffirmed by the Governor, was 
not carried into effect. 

The criminal calender of the county 
was increased after the revulsion in 
1837. After 1829, there seems to have 
been considerable increase in crime, 
over all the former years. This is in 
part explained by the influx of popula- 
tion. 

CIVIL CALENDER. 

Many years ago, the Chenango law- 
yer enjoyed a professional harvest, im- 
mensely more lucrative and incompara- 
bly more profitable, than any or all the 
emoluments arising out of legal practi- 
ces at the present time. When the 
county was emerging from infancy into 
adolescence, numerous disputes, growing 
out of defective land-titles, came to be 
adjusted by the legal tribunals. These 
often involved intricate questions, calling 
for critical legal disquisitions upon the 
laws regulating tenures. 

This species of litigation invited in- 
to the county, counsel eminet for talents, 
and who, as citizens, were worthy the 
high position they occupied in sociallife. 
Indeed, in the year 1820 the county 
bar had a widely extended reputation 
abroad, and compared, for strong abili- 
ty, most favorably with the legal profess- 
ion in all sections of the state. In time the 
disquieted titles were put at rest so much 
that the famous ejectment became very 
rare in the courts. Nearly akin to the 
ejectment were trespass suits brought 
bv and against timber merchants. This 
class o'l traders patronized the courts 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



67 



and lawyers most liberally for a series 
of years. 

The lumber traffic was, at one time, 
a staple branch of commerce in Chenan- 
go. Many of the " gorgeous palaces, 
the cloud-capped towers and solemn tem- 
ples," at present ornamentmg the cities 
of Baltimore and Philadelphia, came 
chiefly from the hill-sides of this coun- 
ty ! The Susquehanna has, in days 
past, floated away, on its broad bosom, 
most of our best Ibrests. This extensive 
trade at length declined, and with it de- 
cayed the litigation which it created. 

Awhile ago laws imprisoning for debt 
were in force. Every creditor had some 
expectations of payment, whatever the 
circumstances of the debtor. K he 
could not get property, he could get the 
bod}', and this was a point gained. — 
Then, on the other hand, insolvent debt- 
ors, anxious to regain their liberty, had 
frequent recourse to the state bankrupt 
laws, which gave rise to much severely 
contested litigation. In time the impris- 
onment laws were abolished and with 
them a cumbrous mass of strife. But 
yet a strife that paid lawyers. 

Many years past, the citizens of Che- 
nango were money-borrowers ; now they 
have money to loan. When the county 
was new the inhabitants were deeply 
indebted on their wild land purchases. 
Farms had to be reclaimed before they 
yielded any profit from cultivation ; it 
was consequently long, very long, ere 
the indebtedness of the county was dis- 
charged. Before this Avas done, frequent 
suits were brought and many foreclos- 
ures made, to collect these debts. This 
species of legal practice has now, fortu- 
ately for the citizens, passed away. — 
The foregoing are some of the causes of 
the great accumulation formerly, and of 
the great decline latterly, or during the 
past twenty-five years, in law business. 

The most paying business ever 
transacted in the count}^ was shared 
among a few practitioners. Once, ed- 
ucation was less diffused than at pres- 
ent. The lawyer drafted the most or- 
dinary papers, such as deeds, leases, 
bonds, contracts, etc., etc., and for every 



service he Avas far better remunerat- 
ed than the modern practitioner. Be- 
sides the general decline in law busi- 
ness in later times, from intrinsic caus- 
es, other agencies have been employed 
to depress the profession. 

In the year 1840, the legislature, un- 
der a recommendation from the Govern- 
or, struck out, at a heat, over fifty per- 
centum from the fees of lawyers. Since 
then the legislature has made still fur- 
ther reductions. But the profession, far 
from being prostrated by these frequent 
decapitations, seems. Hydra-like, to flour- 
ish and prosper, numerically speaking, 
in an inverse ratio, corresponding exactly 
with the decrease of its pay and emolu- 
ments. When law fees were high, and 
legal gentlemen often accumulated little 
fortunes, after twenty or thirty years' la- 
bor, there were not many disciples of the 
law. But now, when no candidate, ex- 
cept by some unexpected stroke of good 
fortune, can in the common course of 
things reasonably expect to realize more 
than a scanty livelihood by the intensest 
application, we find more attorneys in 
this state than ever before. The age is 
eminently monetary ! as most persons 
if not all, begin life to acquire money, 
it is not easy to explain why so many 
leave worldhj pursuits, to stray into the 
dried up and exhausted fields of the pro- 
fession. 

The lawyer, many years ago, was at 
trifling out lay for a law library. In 
modern days it requires many hundred 
dollars to furnish such books as are in- 
dispensable to every practitioner. The 
law was once an interesting study ; but 
for some years past the lawyer's life is 
spent, not in learning the source of le- 
gal ethics, or the discovery of right, so 
much as in comprehending the multi- 
plied formalities of practice, the dex- 
trous manipulations and subtle arts of 
litigation. The New York bar could 
once appear before the courts of other 
states, and the United States, with great 
credit and marked advantage. Butnow, 
attorneys and judges are too much oc- 
cupied in delving out interpretations 
of the numerous statutes, every year 



68 



HISTORY OF 



showered down upon the people by the 
legislature, to devote any time to read- 
ing Kent, Bhickstone, Story, Marshall, 
or indeed any elementary writer. 

The last effort of the legislature to 
clarily the muddy waters of legal prac- 
tice seems to have troubled them the 
more. It is always a sad and dangerous 
thing, to see, as we do now, the gravest 
counsellors and best judges, thrown in- 
to the position of beginners, anxiously 
studious to find what is law upon the 
plainest proposition in practice. The 
anxieties of judges on the bench, to 
know what the legislature has said or 
meant to say, sometimes reminds one of 
the distress of Diogones, the Cynic, who 
was so incensed at the deceit of his fel- 
low citizens, that he gravely went into 
the public street at mid-day, with a 
lighted lantern, to find, as he said, an 
honest man. 

Property and liberty arc ever safest 
when the laws arc uniform and well un- 
derstood. The state required great, rad- 
ical and fundamental reforms in its laws. 
But the legislature has not so much 
reformed revolutionized them. Nor 
is it lawyers alone that suffer by all this 
confusion ; but it is that class of the 
people who are so unfortunate as to be 
suitors before the courts. 

Chancellor Kent, in his life, deprecated 
the slight innovations the Revised Stat- 
utes had made upon the fixed doctrines 
of the Common Law. If alive now, how 
would his soul rise in arms against the 
tornado that has broken up the dikes 
and highways and beacon lights of our 
jurisprudence \ Law is made necessary 
by the wants and the vices of society. — 
By restraining the violent, and by de- 
fending the weak, it operates as the 
great balance wheel that equalizes 
all social riofhls, 



COUNTY LOANS. 



In the year 1792 the state, fc^r the 
first time, was in a condition to h>an to 
the various counties, lying within its 
borders, certain public monies that had 
accumulated in the treasury department. 
On the 14th of March in tiiis year, the 
legislature made a law, which authorized 
the Judges of the court of Common 
Pleas, or one or more of the Jud ges, to- 
gether with the supervisors, or a majori- 
ty of them, in each county, to assemble 
at the county seat of the respective 
counties, and while so met together, to 
elect two freeholders of the county to be 
loan officers, and as such to let out to in- 
dividuals upon bonds and mortgages, 
drawing six per centum of interest an- 
nually, such sums as should, under the 
loan law, be allotted to the county. 

The loan officers, so chosen, were de- 
clared to be a body politic and corporate, 
with all the powers of corporate bodies 
generally. The sum, which the state 
advertised to be loaned, was two hun- 
dred thousand pounds, or somel;hing un- 
der one million of dollars. The legis- 
lature apportioned to the counties of Ti- 
oga and Herkimer, which then included 
Chenango, five thousand four hundred 
pounds, or about twenty-five thousariidi 
dollars. Tioga drew two thousand sice 
hundred pounds, and Herkimer drew 
two thousand eight hundred pounds. 

The interest on the loan became pay- 
able yearly ; and the principal at any time 
the legislature should provide after the 
first of May, 1S03. The loan commis- 
sioners were authorized to seize for the 
state all lands mortgaged, if the princi- 
pal or interest was unpaid after it be- 
came due. No formalities were required 
to obtain for the state a title totlie landl 
pledged, except a seizure. 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



69 



By anatlicr provision of law, the loan 
officer, after taking possession, was au- 
thorized to sell the estate at auction, for 
the public benefit. This county enjoy- 
ed some part of this loan, as appears 
from an extract from the law of 179S, 
organizing Chenango out of Herkimer 
and Tioga counties. The provision 
reads : " That all lossess whioli may 
arise from deficiencies on loans made 
by the loan officers, on lands situated in 
that part of Chenango taken from Her- 
kimer county, shall be borne by inhabit- 
ants residing in such part ; and such de- 
ficiency as shall arise from lands mort- 
gaged to the loan officers of the county 
of Tioga^ and situated in that part of 
the county of Chenango, taken from the 
county of Tioga, shall be borne by the 
inhabitants residing in such parts." 

Previous to the above law of 1792, 
the state issued bills of credit, by virtue 
of an act of the legislature, passed April 
18, 1786, to the amount of two hundred 
thousand pounds, or over eight hundred 
thousand dollars, to relieve the distress 
of the people, occasioned by the late 
calamitous war for independence. These 
bills were loaned to the different coun- 
ties, in proportion to the quota of inhab- 
itants. The loan officers secured the 
state by taking bonds and mortgages, as 
now. These bills were receivable for 
state dues, and whenever the State 
Treasurer had a surplus of 150,000 
pounds of gold or silver in the treasury, 
he was to redeem such as were out- 
standing. The bills issued under this 
act were a lawful tender for debts among- 
citizens ; in other words, they were is- 
sued to supply the want of a better cir- 
culating medium. On the adoption of 



the Constitution of the United States, 
this kind of currency, issued by the stale 
government, was wholly interdicted. — 
In 1795 the Legislature extended the 
time for paymeuet of mortgages execu- 
ted under this law, to the year 1805. 
Another act passed in March, 1806, ex- 
tended the time to ISIO. By another 
act passed February 26, 1808; the time 
for payment of principal, due for loans 
under the laws of 1792 and 1786, was 
extended to the year 1815. In all of 
these cases, the borrowers were at liberty 
to pay their mortgages at anv moment. 

Orl the 11th of April, 1808, the legis- 
lature authorized a new loan from the 
state to the freeholders of some of the 
counties, amounting to four hundred 
thousand dollars, at six per centum of 
interest. In 1815 the loan of 1792 was 
again extended. In 1820 the old loan 
ofiicers in the counties were changed. 

The earliest loan books we have been 
able to find int he county, were opened 
by Gen. Obediah German and Nathan- 
iel Locke, as Loan Commissioners, in 
the year 180S. Applications for the 
public monies were most numerous, and 
beyond the sums to be let. Applicants 
received a pro rata, or per centum ac- 
cording to the amount for which they 
applied. 

The lettings by the state, from time 
to time, continued until the United 
States Deposite Fund was distributed 
in loans, throughout the counties. The 
debt due the state was then, as we are 
advised, merged, or rather consolidated 
into the United States loan. The pres- 
ent county debt, for the public monies, 
ranges between seventy and eighty 
thousand dollars. We understand the 



70 



riiSTORV OF 



last morlgaoT, oiiistiimliiii^ to siv'ure 
mojiios under llic "old lo;iu," was la- 
ken up very lecrntly. 

POPULATION OF ClIEXAXGO. 

The first settlers of the county, were 
chiefly from the New England states. 
Many wore natives of Massachusetts, 
but the majority of the early pioneers 
Avere from the state of Connecticut. — 
Stonington, in the latter state, contrib- 
uted largely towards the peopling of this 
county. One of the towns, west of the 
county seat, once bore the name of 
Stonington, and afterward took another 
cognomen. 

Beside the earlv eastern settlers in the 
county, there was a respectable class of 
Frenchmen, who, escaping the wild fu- 
ry of a bloody revolution at home, fled 
across the Atlantic, aiul sough refuge in 
these, then, western wilds. The " Ver- 
mont sufferers," composed another por- 
tion of the early population oj Chenan- 
go. The slates, from whence the first 
inhabitants migrated, continued for numy 
years to I'tirni-^h the chief increase of 
population hither. While the New 
England colonies flourished, the French 
colony went gradually into decline, and 
at last fell to decay. 

In modern times, a new people have 
appeared among iis, and ti.ved them- 
selves in permanent abodes. These are 
an enterprising and frugal class of Cath 
die Irish. They are farmers, located on 
the hills in the town of Smithville, and 
will soon become, (if not already so,) 
men of moderate wealth. Of this set- 
tlement, we shall have occasion to speak 
hereafter. 

COUNTY CENSUS IN ISOO. 

We propose at this stage of the his- 
torv, to open up a comparative view, or 
statement of the population at different 
periods from the year ISOO, (the first 
year an enumeration of the inhabit- 
ants of the county was made, after it 
was established,) down to the year ]S45 

In the year ISOO thecounty contained 
a free white ;??«/? population, muler ten 
years of age, consisting of '2,99-2 per- 



sons. It coi\iained of males, bet^veen 
t]\e ages of ten and sixteen years, 1314. 
Of males between the ages of sixteen 
and twenty-six, 1436. Of males be- 
tween the ages of twenty-six, and un- 
der forty-five. 1942. 0"f males of the 
age of forty-five and upwards, 679. 

The free white female population of 
the county, consisted, at this lime, of 
2S91 children under the age of ten years. 
Over the age of ten, and under sixteen 
years, 103S. Of the age of sixteen, and 
under twenty-six years, 1249. Of the 
age of twenty-six, and under forty-five 
years, 1523. Of (he age of forty-five 
years and upwards, 134. AH other 
free persons, except Indians not taxed, 
amounted to 40. There were 16 slaves 
in the county in this year; making an 
aggregate of population, numbering lo,- 
666 souls. This county then included 
the present county of jNIadison. 

CENSUS OF ISIO. 

The county in the year 1S06, was 
abridged, by taking off' the present Mad- 
ison county. As now appointed, the 
county in ISIO contained of free Avhite 
males under the age of ten years, 4,254, 
of ten years and under sixteen, 18S9. — 
Of sixteen years, and under twenty six 
1895. Of twenty six and under forty 
five years 2257. Of forty five years and 
upwards 1113. 

The free wKiic female population, un- 
der ten years, consisted in ISIO of 3,- 
S39 souls. Of ten years and under six- 
teen 1536 persons. Of sixteen years 
and under twenty six 1914. Of twenty 
six and under forty five 2016. Of forty 
five years and upwards 900. The coun- 
ty contained of all other free persons, 
except Indians not taxed, 76. The num- 
ber of slaves in the county, in ISIO, was 
13. 

The aggregate of population in this 
year, including every class above enu- 
merated, was 21,704. The population 
of Madison in this year, was 25,144. — 
The population of the two counties in 
ISIO was 46,S4S. This shows an ag- 
rrregate increase in ten years of 31,182. 
But after the census of 1800, and before 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



71 



1810, Saugerslield had been set off from 
■Chenango to Oneida. This town in- 
cluded, shows an increase of the then 
county population amounting to 31,7l0. 
CENSUS OF 18-20. 
The census of the county taken in 
this year, shows the following result, of 
males under ten years, 5346. Of ten 
and under sixteen 2559. Between six- 
teen and. eighteen, 759. Of sixteen 
and under twenty six, 2931. Of twen- 
ty six and under forty five, 3144. Of 
forty five and upwards, 1778. The free 
Avhite female population in this year un- 
der ten years was, 5325. Of ten years 
and under sixteen, 2409. Of persons 
of sixteen and under twenty six, 3024. 
Of twenty six and under forty five, 2,- 
950. Of forty five and upwards, 1553. 
The slave population of both sexes a- 
mounted to only seven persons. The 
colored population, male and female, was 
189. This census shows an aggregate 
of 31,215 persons, residents of thecoun- 
ty in this. year. It also shows an in- 
crease of population, during ten years or 
from 1810, amounting to 9511. 

CENSUS OF 1S30. 

The particulars of tiie census takenin 
this year are so rnimerous and are ex- 
tended into such tedious details that we 
shall not wetiry the reader wJth a min- 
ute circumstantial account of them. — 
Norwich contained in 1S30, a free col- 
ored population amounting to nearlv 
100 souls. No other town had so nu- 
merous a populalion of this class. Ox- 
ford contained the next most numerous 
colored population. Sherburne the next. 
Plymouth was not represented by any 
of the dark people. Pharsalia contain- 
ed but one black inhabitant. There 
were four slaves set down, in the enu- 
meration, as belonging to Sherburne. 

No other town in the county contain- 
ed any persons held m servitude. One 
male person of one hundred years and 
upwards was then living in Bainbrido-e 
and one female of the age of one hund- 
red years, resided in Norwirh. 

There were but twelve pcr:ionp in the 



county, between the ages of ninety and 
one hundred years. The early colored 
inhabitants can:e into the county chieflv 
with the Eastern pioneers, who were in 
many instances owners of this part of 
the population. Three of the slaves 
owned in Sherburne in 1830 had attain- 
ed the a£;e of one hundred years. This 
is remarkable when taken in connection 
with the sparse number of colored peo- 
ple in the county. Out of many thou- 
sand white people, but two had attained 
to such old age. 

The agcregate population in the coun- 
ty of all classes and casts, in 1830 was 
37,404 : showing an increase over 1820 
of 6189 persons. 

CENSUS OF 1840. 

In the year 1840 Chenango had at- 
tained its maximum of population. The 
county then contained 40,785 inhabi- 
tants : Being an increase over the year 
1830 of 3381 persons. 

In this year there was no white per- 
sons resident in the county, that had at- 
tained the age of one hundred years. — 
Only two while persons were as old as 
ninety years and upwards. One color- 
ed woman, was found in Sherburne, that 
had lived to the age of one hundred. — 
As a country becomes settled the inhabi- 
tants seem to decline ; possibly verify- 
ing language of the poet. 

'' Where wealth accumulates, men 
decay." 

The following remarks of Goldsmith, 
are perhaps, to a certain extent true tho' 
they are to be taken with many qualifi- 
cations. 

He says : — 

" Poverty and want are the parentsof 
vigilance and economy ; vigilance and 
economy, of riclies and honor ; riches 
and honor, of pride and luxury ; pride 
and luxury, of negligence and idleness; 
and nejrlig'^nce and idleness again pro- 
duce indigence and obscrily. Such are 
the revolution of life I" 

We hnve sometimes heard it observ- 
ed, that colored people are constitution- 
ally adaptr'd to vor\' warmcounlricr-, that 



72 



HISTORY OF 



in cold climates they arc taken oil" by 
disease in their prime. 

The statistics of this county show a 
different result from that arrived at by 
this kind ofreasonino-. Longevity among 
the colored race in Chenango is more 
common in proportion to numbers, than 
among the whites. It may be that the 
African in his native country, lives to a 
yet greater age : greater far than the 
Anglo-American in his, of this we are 
uninformed. 

In the county census tables of IS40, 
we find an account of the number of 
persons employed in mining ; in agri- 
culture ; in commerce ; in manufactures; 
and trade ; in navigation on the ocean ; 
in navigation on canals and rivers ; and 
in the learned prosessions. There is al- 
so a' list of pensioners, for service per- 
formed during the revolutionary war. 

In this year (1S40) there were as ma- 
ny as 20,545 individuals or more than 
one half of the population, engaged in 
tilling the soil ; in the pursuits" of com- 
merce 458 persons were engaged ; 3,46 i 
persons were engaged in ^manufactures 
and trade ; one individual in navigatmg 
the ocean; 61 in navigating canals and 
rivers.; in the learned prosessions 489 of 
the population were employed. The 
number of revolutionary pensioners in 
1S40 was 103. 

THE SCHOOLS OF THE COUNTY 
In this year (1840) there were eight 
academies and grammer schools of pri- 
mary and common schools 343 ; as fol- 
lows: In Columbus 15 ; in Smyrna 15; 
in Lincklcan 9; in Guilford '21 ; in 
Otsclic 14 ; in Coventry 15 ; in Bain- 
bridge 24 ; in Sherburn^ IS; in New 
Berlin 23 ; in Greene 30; in German 
10 ; in JMcDonough 13 ; in Smithville 
19 ; in Pitcher iLi ; in Pharsalia 12 ; in 
Norwich 34 ; (Norwich then includod 
North Norwich,) in Plymouth, 91; in 
Preston 12 ; in Oxford 25. 

The number of scholars that attend- 
ed these E-chools was 12,81. Bain- 
bridge, Greene and Norwich e;ich hud 
over 1,000 youths (both sexes includ- 
ed) receiving iuslruciiun I'lcston had 



the lowest number of scholars ; this 
town numbered but 840 pupils. The 
number of; scholais that w^re educated 
at publij charge in this year were twen- 
ty only and these were "living in Pres- 
ton. Of the number of whfte p.^rsons 
over 20 years of age in the county that 
could not read or zcrile ; none were found 
in Lincklean ; Oxford ; Greene ; Ger- 
man ; McDonough ; Smithville ; Pitch- 
er ; Pharsalia ; Norwich or Plymouth. 
Of this unlettered class, Columbus 
contained 3 ; Smyrna 24 ; Guiilord 4 ; 
Otselic 10 ; Coventry 2 ; Bainbridge2; 
Sherburne 13 ; New Berlin 9 ; Prest- 
on 10. The whole number in the coun- 
ty was 77 

111 the academies and grammer 
schools ; Sherburne had 168 students 
Greene 68 ; Pitcher 26 ; Norwich 82. 
Oxford 379. The other towns stand 
blank in the census returns. 

Some of the readers of the history 
may desire to see a comparative table 
showing the increase of population in 
the county from the year 1800 to the 
year 1840 and after that the slight de- 
crease within the origmal limits of the 
county as it was organized in 1800. 

To give this table we must incliide 
Madison county and add her popula- 
tion to ours. 

The present counties of Madison and 
Chenango, (both formerly in the coun- 
ty of Chenango) contained in 1800; 
5,666 inhabitants of all ages sexes 
conditions and complexions, except In- 
dians. In 1810 the two counties con- 
tained 46,818 inhabitants ; showing an 
mcrease in ten years of 3 1 ,182. In 18- 
20 the two counties contained 63,423 
inhabitants, which was an increase o- 
ver 1810 of 16,575. In 1830 the pop- 
ulalion of the two counties was 76,441 
showing an increase over ls20 of 13,- 
018. In the year 1840 the population 
of these two counties had nearly at- 
tained its maximum ; it had reached as 
high as SO 793, being a gain of 4,352 
over the year 1830. In the year 1845 
the two counti'^s contained a population 
of 80,887 showing only 94 increase 
over the year 1S:0. ^ In ISIO Madison 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



73 



county had 3,410 more popululion than 
Cheiiaut^o. In 1845 Chenango num- 
bered 1,U87 less than Madison. But in 
1840 Chenango contained 773 7nore in- 
habitants than Madison. Chenango had 
less people in 184-5 than in 1840. 

There are very satisfactory reasons to 
be advanced for the decline of our rural 
population. When the county Avas 
new and while the farmers were in poor 
circumstances, individuals occupied and 
cultivated small farms. At length the 
Chenango canal opened up for this re- 
gion a ready, paying market for butter 
and cheese and wool and indeed for 
whatsoever grains the agriculturalist pro- 
duced. This placed wealth in hands it 
had never reached before. In a shoi't 
space the larger farmers realizing hand- 
some gains for the products of their dai- 
ries, began to purchase up the farms of 
the small proprietors lo enlarge their own 
fields. The latter class emigrated to the 
West, v/herc land is cheap, leaving one 
man to occupy in the county a territory 
several had always cultivated previous- 
ly. Indeed, owing lo this cause, the next 
censTis may show a still farther decrease 
in population ; but yet a surprising in- 
crease in agricultural wealth. 

In the year 1840, more than half the 
people of Chenango were farmers. And 
the decrease of this class of inhabitants 
must be very great, to cause the popula- 
tion of the comity to diminish (as by the 
census It appears to) while the growth of 
all the villages was never so rapid or so 
prosperous as during the past six years. 
But for the rise and progress of the vill- 
ages, in every quarter of the county, the 
decrease of our rural population would 
in time be seriously felt. 



10 



CENSUS OF 1815. 

We will next proceed to an examina- 
tion of the census returns of 1845. — • 
Heretofore we have had recourse to sta- 
tistics published in the United States 
census returns. In 1845 a census was 
taken under the direction of the State 
authorities and at the State expense. — 
This census, including an enumeration 
of the inhabitants ; an account of the 
agriculture and mechanic arts, exercised 
in the county, is made out minutely, e- 
laborately and is very valuable. Na- 
ked statistics often speak with more en- 
thusiasm and true eloquence than tliepro- 

I ductions of the ablest philosophers, ora- 
tors or authors. Like history, they ure 
"philosophy teaching by example." 

The modern census is far more exten- 
sive and scrutinizing than the early ac- 
counts which we have of the progress of 
population and industry in the U. States. 
The census of 1845 contains not only a 
count of the population ; but there is ap- 
pended a list of pupils in tlie schools ; 

j the quantity of cloth of every descrip- 
tion fabricated in families for domestic 

I consumption ; the quantity of improved 
land in each town ; the different kind of 
crops grown and the quantity ; the num- 
ber of neat cattle ; horses ; sheep ; 
swine ; also the extent oi horticultural 
pursuit. There is likewise an accx»unt 
of the various kinds of machinery; such 
as fulling mills, carding machines, cot- 
ton factories, woolen factories, rope fac- 
tories, etc. There is also an enumera- 
tion of Iron works, trip hammers, distil- 
leries, asheries, paper mills, tanneries 
and breweries. There is a detailed ac- 
count of the various religious dcnomina- 



71 



• HiyiOKY OF 



tions and incorporalcd in^^l itiitions ol 
learning. Anotliev ul' Holds, Stores, 
trades and profetibiun.s. 

POPULATION OF THE TOWNS IX '15. 

Bainbridge contained of inhabitants 3081 

Coventry 1795 

Columbus 1461 

German 947 

Guilford 2787 

Greene 39(5-5 

Lincklean 1172 

McDonough 1514 

Norwich and 1\. Norwich 4269 

New-Berlin 2704 

Oxford 3059 

Otsclic 1483 

Pharsalia 1209 

Pitcher 1501 

Preston 1059 

Plymouth 1476 

Smyrna 1944 

Sherburne 2680 

SmithviUe 1794 

Giving- a total in the county of 39,900 
inhabitants. 

There were in this year 425 children 
in the cour.ty attending select, unincor- 
porated schools. There were also 416 
youths of both sexes attending incorpo- 
rated academies within the county. Of 
incorporated academies in 1845, there 
were four. One in each of the towns of 
Norwich, New-Berlin, Sherburne and 
Oxford. These institutions w^ere estab- 
lished at an aggregate outlay of eleven 
thousand seven hundred and" thirty nine 
dollars for the buildings alone. Other 
improvements about them cost five thou- 
sand six hundred and tv/en y six dollars 
more ; and the sites for tthe buildings 
were purchased at a further cost of thir- 
ty seven hundred and fifty dolhirs- 



IMPROVED LAND IN THE COUNTY. 

In the year 1800 Chenango was yet a 
wilderness, except occasional small in- 
roads made into the forest by the woods- 
man's axe. But it is far otherwise now, 
as appears by the subjoined table (of 
cleared or improved land in each town) 
made in the year lb45. 
Bainbridge hud, of improved 

acres 22,865^3- 16 

Coventry 17,133 

Columbus 15,299 

German 8,933 

Guilford ^^3,658 1-4 

Greene 24,802 3-4 

Lincklean 8,470 3-4 

McDonovgh 11,351 

Norwich 26,008 

New-Berlin 21,293 

Oxford 19,169 

Otselic 8,163 

Pharsalia l0,5G^i 

Pitcher 10,688^3-4 

Preston 14,207 1-4 

Plymouth 12,923 

Smyrna 14,931 1-4 

Sherburne 20,970:; 1-2 

SmithviUe 18,414^ 

In the above list the towns of North 
Norwich is included in Norwich. Ac- 
cording to this table the connty, at that 
day (1845), contained 309,851 31-H^ 
acres of improved soil. We have be- 
fore put down the county as including an 
area of about 514,800 acres. Omitting 
the fraction of an acre set down in the 
above footing, we find the county con- 
tained about 204,949 acres of wood land 
in that year. Much of the cleared land 
in the county has been deyoted exclu- 
sively to grazing and has not yet been 
subjected to the plough. In 1835 there 
were 248,566 acres of improved land io 
the county. 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



75 



BUTTER MANUFACTURED IN 1814. 

We now propose to give in round num- 
bers the quantity ol" butter made b\- tlie 
citizens in this year. In the 19 towns, 
North Norwich tlica being a part of Nor- 
wich, the dairy of the county produced 
no less than 2,8]6,:291 pounds of butter, 
which is «old at 12 cents the pound, 
yielded to the citizens no less than, 
three hundred thirty seven thousand nine 
hundred til'ty four dullars and uiin'ly-luo 
cents. If sold at 14 ceuts [irr jiitund, il 
yielded the sum of three hundred n.ine- 
IV four thousand two hundred and eigh- 
ty dollars and seveuty four cents. If at 
16 cents per pound, the county received 
four hundred aud fifty thousand six hun- 
dred six dollars aud fifty six cents. 

In these estimates no allowance or 
deduction has been made for the quanti- 
ly used for home consumption. The 
reader can best allow for this, as well as 
fix the prices of the commodity in 1844. 

CHEESE PRODUCE IN 1841. 

We should be happy if we could ex- 
hibit to the reader a comparative table, 
showing the growth of the dairy, now 
the staple business of the county, from 
its origin to the present time. Eat there 
are no means of obtaining the infdrma- 
tiou requisite to this undertakmg. When 
we come to the neat stock raised in the 
oounty, the reader may form some vrigue 
: idea of die iucrense of the butter and 
cheese trade for the past ten ye;)rs. We 
1 may alili'm th;il this brancli of commerce 
I among us had its real ben:inning be- 
■ tween the years 1837 and 18 !0. Many 
I years earlier dairying was followed, in 
I some isolated instances, by farmers, tlio' 
this but rarely ! 

We will here observe that tliere has 
been a marked increase of butter and 
cheese making in the conntv in the vear 
we write (1850) over the year 1845, at 
which lime our estimates are taken. 

In the year 1844 there were made in 
the county 1,145,057 pounds of cheese. 
Columbus nmde 345,559 pounds ; 153,- 
IJ53 pounds were made in New Berlin ; 



108.000 pounds in Sherburne. German 
made but 4,158 pounds. In this year, 
Guilford put down the most butter ;" and 
Otselic the least. 

The census of 1850 will exhibit as 
we remarked, an amazing increase in 
butter aiKl cheese beyond the census of 
1845. Not only is an augmented quan- 
tity manufactured over former years, but 
by practice confirmed by experience,' the 
Chenango farmers have come to present, 
in t!ir New York market, u quality of 
>'liiM',:c and bulter as rich and well" fla- 
vored as the best productions of Orange 
County. 

Several kinds of cheese are put up 
in this county for foreign consumption. 
The " pine-apple cheese" is now made 
by many farmers, and sells in New York 
Cuy at high prices, for shipment to 
warm countries. It is so protected as to 
withstand a high degree of heat. The 
incrusted rind renders it impervious to 
insects or vermin and preserves it nutri- 
cious for a number of years. Much la- 
bor and skill is required to prepare it 
properly for market. Its shape and col- 
or renders it very ornamental for the 
table. 

The most extensive dairy carried on 
upon axingle farm in the county, so far 
as our information extends, consists of 

501. 1 tiling over ninety milching cows. 
On ■ iarmer in tJie county, is proprietor 
o[ between four and five hundred cows, 
distributed about upon different farms. 
This branch of business afibrds profita- 
ble employment to men and women, — 
In the year 1845 there were, as stated 
before, of cows in the county 29,006, of 
these Guilford contained the most, and 
Lincklean the least. 

BUTTER ANDCIIEESEMADE IN THE 
YEAR IS-IS). 



The President of the " Ohenano-o 
Aq-ricultural Society" has politely fui- 
nished us with a statement, or rather es- 
timate, of the quantity of butter and 
cheese made in the countv in that ^year 
(1849). It is an extract from the report 



.7G 



llI^siTOKY OF 



read before the society. We will here 
insert it ut length even at the risk of 
repetition. It reads in tiii^- wise — 

"A large proportion of our farmers 
are engaged in the bnsiness of making 
hutter and cheese. Our fine pastures 
amd pure water enable our dairymen to 
niaiuifactnre large quantities of excel- 
lent butter which commands good prices 
in market. It is to be noticed to the cre- 
dit of our butter making, that at the last 
State Fair, the first premium on butter 
was awarded to a Chenango farmer. — 
The books kept at the canal offices and 
store-houses enable us to state the quan- 
tity of butter and cheese sent to market 
by the Chenango Canal this year. It is 
as follows. Of butter, after deducting 
weight of tubs and firkins, 1,966,929 
pounds. Of cheese 1,035,256 pounds." 

" It is estimated that one tenth of the 
quantity of butter and cheese manufac- 
tured finds Its way to market by the N. 
York and Erie Kail Road, and by routes 
other than the Chenango Canal, which, 
when added to the above figures, makes, 
in the aggregate, 2,185,476 pounds of 
butter and 1,150,281 pounds of cheese 
that was sent to market from tliis coun- 
ty during the year." 

The President adds : " I have no 
means of ascertaining the quantit\ con- 
sumed in the county. When the com- 
ing census statistics are published it will 
probably appear that the butter made 
was three and a half millions of pounds, 
and the cheese two millions of pounds." 

By making an estimate or estimates 
of the value of the butter and cheeseas 
we have already done in the year 18-15 
the reader will pretty nearly arrive at 
the increase of these branches of farm- 
ing in the county. 

The value of the butter ma<le in 18- 
49, if reckoned at the value of 14 cents 
by the pound, amounted to four hundred 
and ninety thousand dollars. If reckon- 
ed at 15 cents, it amounted to five hun- 
dred and twentv-five thousand dollars. 
If at 16 cents it amoumed to five hund- 
red and sixty thousand dollars. By re- 
ferring back to the statements concern- 
ing butter making in ISil, the reader 



can readily compare the present esti- 
mates with the census of 18-15. 

The cheese manufactured in thecoun- 
ty is of various ([nalities, bearing very 
different prices and the aggregate value 
is not for this reason so readily __!\rrived 
at. 

NEAT CATTLE IN THE COUNTY. 

In tlie year 1835 the county contained 
56,916 head of neat Cattle. Norwich, 
Oxford, Guilford and Greene possessed 
the most. Each of these towns owned 
something over I'nur thousand. Linck- 
lean owned only about I40U head. 

In 1845 the county contained, 29,006 
milching cows, 11,308 calves under a 
year old and 52,640 head of cattle over 
one year of age. This table does not 
show material advance in stock raising 
for ten years. Breeding*of i'at stock for 
the eastern market was an extensive 
branch of business in this county about 
fifteen years ago. But of late years, as 
a dairy commerce has been created in 
Chenango, and every heavy farmer is 
more or less a trader also (in butter and 
cheese) the public attention has been 
more confined to breeding, and import- 
ing into the county a superior quality 
of cows, neglecting fat cattle. 

Western New York and Ohio, in par- 
ticular, furnish us large quotas of these 
animals yearly. The number of cowsi 
now owned in the countv bears a far 
greater proportion to the other kinds of 
neat stock than in the year 1S30, up to 
1840 — Milching cattle have not only ad- 
vanced in niunbers here, but an equal 
advance in their value has likewise oc- 
curred. 

WOOL GROWING BUSINESS. 

The fiirmers of the county long ago 
raised more or less sheep ; but the wool 
produced was chiefly confined to home 
consumption. In the year 1810, the pri- 
vate looms in the county fabricated of 
woolen, linen and mixed cloths, 217,571 
yards. 37,800 vards of cloth were dress- 
ed at the FuUiiig Mills. 39,000 pomtda 



CHEXANGO COUNTY. 



77 



of wool were .-urded by iriacliinery. AlUT 
lliis time, cotioa beoaii to be iiiuodiici'd 
into the eounty ; but liie use ol' it was 
then a hjxiirv, to be afibrdcilouly, by 
the weaithv few. A rougli cotton «hirt 
cost as much, fortv vears ago, as a linen 
garment of Hnesi texture does at this 
lime. 

Wool, at an earlv dav, was not as now, 
a cash commodity in our market. The 
manufacturer made it into cloth and de- 
ducted out his toll as the llouring estab- 
lishments practice with their customers. 
There was no lixed price for wool when 
it Avas exchanged for merchandize or 
products of the land. The price was 
regulated by the appetite of the buyer, 
coupled witli the wants and necessities 
of the seller. 

We believe the first ca?h opening of 
the wool market in Chenango was about 
the year 1824. In this year, George 
Field, then a Norwich nierchant, while 
in the ciiy of New York, conversed with 
dealers relative to the cash value in the 
city of thu various products raised in 
thiscount}'. He also examined " prices 
current'" and shipping-lists. He gath- 
ered what information was to be obtain- 
ed from these various sources and return- 
ed home. After some time's reflection 
upon the chances of turnitig produce 
raised liere into money, he at length 
concluded to embark in a fleece-wool ad- 
venture ; after associating with Thomas 
Milner, he posted advertisenr^ents and 
dispatched agents and store-clerks into 
many different quarters, among farmers, 
residing both in and out of the county, 
to buy all the stock on hand, for cash, at 
prices ranging from tweniy eight to forty 
two cents per pound. 

After the most indefatigaldo exertions 
(in and out of the county) j\Iessrs. Field 
and Milner sueced:-d in" buying 9,0U0 
pounds, and no more. Such an unex- 
pected foray, among the wool-growers, 
created immense surprise. Selling in 
one season, so many pounds and this 
quantity falling into single hand's v>-a3 
past all comprehension. Mr. Field col- 
lected his multifarious purchases to- 
gplher ami r ran. -ported thein to X. Yurie 



i-ity ; arrived there he found the market 
leL-ble and dt-pressed. He iinully .sold 
out to the '* Paiuecha mant/facturing 
company" doing business at iMiddlelowu 
in Connecticut, and realized a fair profit; 
after paying the heavy expenses, incurr- 
ed to get the various purchases collect- 
ed together at the county seat. 

We are indebted to Mr. Field formo^-t 

^ of the statements made above. Mr. F. 

I is not ])osirivo of the year, nvr; docs he 
positively say that he was the first cash 
purchaser at wholesale. His^ language 
is" 1 believe I was the first person who 
ever bought from the growers^^of Che- 
nango and paid cash." 

I The next year ]\Ir. Field purchased on 

I his own account I00,000pounds of wool 
with infinitely less trouble and travel 
than he had purchased the 9,000 pounds 
the year preceding. 

After the market had once opened 
briskly in Norwich, new buyers aj)peur- 
ed and bought heavily for many years. 
Besides' Thomas Milner ; Squire Smith. 
David E. S. Bt?dford, David Griffing and 
subsequently Messrs. Berry, Sandford 
Gen. O. G. Kundell and others embark- 
ed and continued the avooI speculation 
until the animal sales within the county, 
some years, amounted to two Juuidre'l 
and fifty thousand dollars and upward)>, 
as we are advised. 

Passing down to a later day, we find in 
the census of 1835 a statement that 
Chenango county contained in this year, 
m round numbers, 161,220 sheep." In 
184-3, the county contained 223,453. In 
ten years the stock of sheep had increa- 
sed 62,233. Chenango produced in this 
year 503.933 pounds of wool. In the 
year 1835 Norwich and North Norwich 
contained 25,468 head of sheep. Ger- 
man but 2276. Sherburne was the next 
town to Norwich and contained but a- 
bout half as many. Norwich village, 
being the seat of the wool buyers, may 
have produced this singular result. — 
Preston, Oxford ami New Berlin reared 
many sheej) in this year 

In 1345 Norwich and North Norwich 
raised no less than 35,97.) shoep. Sher- 

! burno 21,373. Sr.ivrna 15J)00 and over. 



73 



HISTOKV OV 



HOUSES. 



GcriiKiu the I'lWL'st town, 5 107. 

OriiiU', llio low [)rioo.s lliat wool lioars 
liave soiaewliat disi'Oiira^X'd our i'anncrs 
iVoiu pcTSL'Vcrin;;- iu llii.s hran/li ol' a>;ri- 
culture : and iiulL'j>cMulc'iil of low priiH's, 
in recent tinie.s a poweriul cunipeiition, 
in tile wool oTOwiiiy traliL-,has arisen iu 
tlie yuiing wes't. In tliat temperate oli- 
mate, animals are reared and nurtured 
at irillino- co^t ; cattle and lior>;es as well 
us sheep. On the wild i^ra^^s ol' the pra- 
rie they particularly thrive and liiid u- 
buadant suhsii-'teiice for most part ot the 
vear. 

Tlie fleece of the sheep, in 'lie West i' development ufthe li 
is of a coar^-e texture : But this lenden- 1! tention has not Ijeen 



mes ]i;ist, Ijeen fa- 
;Me blood horses. 



The county ha. 
niOMS for reariie^' 

Vlauy years ai^o iiunieruus larnu rs iiom 

Dutchess county vieil u-illi each other in 

this hranch of hreetlini;-. The principal 

compatitors were the t''er Lee family. — 

Tliey imported and dispersed alioiit tlie 

county many useful ac(iuisilions to this 

Idad of sto-Jc. The county is much m- 

dehted to Dutchess for the principal part 

of what choice blood yet remains. Our 

j; soil and climate is ver\ favorable to llie 

J^iiitlicieut al- 

id to breeds lo 



<-y is kept down, for the most part in the'' keep up a proper puuity in the race of 
yount^, by constant importations of Hue late year-:. Fillies are but scddom spar- 
wooled males IVom the New Eno-huid/rd Iron', work lo rear colts, but on the 
States, and from Vermont in particuiur. [j contrary our farmers, bent on ei-ononiy ; 
After a considerable time the soft fleece ., a Ijad e.'oiiom\- as wr think 1 devoio 
of the Vermont stock, even of that ini- |i agcl mares, or those that have been over- 
ported, yields to another of coarser fibre, j' tasked, until thev fail of their usefulness 



This may be accounted for by the rank 
nature of the western grass herbiij>-e,and 
also by the iriuch greater and longer 
continued heat to which the wool is ex- 
posed before it is gathered. 

SWINE RAISIXG. 

Chenango fattens but few hogs for ex- 
portation. In the year 1835 the whole 
number in the countv amounted to only 
27,871 head. These were pretty equal- 
ly distributed among the towns, la 18- 
■io, the j'armers had fallen ofl' ill their 
supply of this kind of stock as there | 
were then but 23,949 he;id in the coun i 
tv ; showing a decrease of several thou 



in harness, to reproduction of voiing. 

In addition to the elforts of the Messrs. 
Per Lees to imorove the Cdieiianyo 



horse : Geii 
ers, contribu 
The Gou. 
county that 
scendants. 



U.'rman, ana several otli- 
led much in former days. 

br.iught one hor^o into the 
lad many distinguished de- 
'I'liere is now asteadv coin- 



I merce carried on between the horse mer- 

I, chants of the c(junty and the New York 

! City buyers, indeed Norwich and oth- 

I er viila^e^ are already miniature " Tat- 

: tersalls" in the buying and selling way. 

The bc>:t animals are selected and the 

inferior left lov home service. We have 

said enouirh, caution is not taken to im- 



i^and" notwhhstaiuling the increase of| P^ove or lo preserve our stock nnd the 
offal from the dairv. ^ Of late, several l^^'^^'l'^^f ""' b^'''^" '^'^P' "P ' '''\ ™'?'|' 



m the countv, embarked i„ i nualily the statement, perhaps, l.v uu- 
■ vising (armers that it the horse lias not 
in their I'stimatiiju deteriorated as yet, 
still the time must arrive wueii degener- 
acv will follow, unless care and skill are 
employed to foriify against it. It re- 
quire.s several general ioiu-i*to obliterate 
a choice stock, but li'.ne will do it. It is 
a^^ ch;.'ai) for far.ncrs to roar v.ilualilc 



merchan 

the pork-buying business extensively. — 
Most of these made contracts with joh- 
bers to feed their hands, for the time, at 
work constructing the Erie Rail Road. 
The Ijuyers also h;i(l i'arther contracts 
with the coal miners of Pennsylvania. — 
We believe tliis trade has now nearly 
ceased. 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



79 



colts, as il i>^ lo lueed common ones ; Lc- { 
!tid(.'8 it is far iiioce profitable in the oncL 

In the year 1835, the county contain- 1 
fd 12,287 horses. ]n l&4o or in ten 
years the number became reduced to 10- 
416. The dairy seems to have absorb- 
ed partially even the business of horse 
raisinof, as it has a great many other 
branches, i'uinierly exercised by the ru- 1 
ral population. 

We might here remark that rxperi-' 
ence has proved the •' Morgan Horse"! 
to be the best roadster i)i the United 
States. When our plank roads are 
completed there will be an increased de- 
inand for these small, compact, hardy, 
docile and nimble travellers. They are 
not as ye.t introduced much among us, 
but we think will be. The railroads of 
a country diminish animal labor and 
gradually supersede it lor road purposes, 
England we understand, contains less 
than one half the horses it did in 1S30; 
the year rail carriages were introduced 
on that Island. There is perhaps, ow- 
ing to this cause, a diminished demand for 
horses in this state and this may account 
for tl>e decrease of this species of stock 
in Chenango. 



We now pass from the stock of the 
county. Within two or three years a 
considerable commerce has groAvn out of 
the buying up of eggs for the New York 
market. Hitherto, the west has monop- 
olized this trade, but some of our citi- 
zens have made adventures and realiz- 
ed amazing profits for the amount of mo- 
ney invested. ItAvould be well for far- 
mers to supply themselves with a copy 
of the " Poulterer's Companion," a cheap 
work for sale at our book stores. Those 
who have embarked in poultry have thus 
far been amply rewarded and in time 
will be yet better paid. The most ap- 
proved method of keeping poultry is to 
have a yard picketed to confine them 
during the plaiuing season. Fowls to be 
healthy require the freedom of a farm ; 
and yet they thrive exceeding well when 
vurdcd in our villages. 



GKIST MILLS. 

The value of the grains ground in 
the county amounted in 1S4>3 to $5 18.5,- 
220. There were forty four mills in the 
county thist ground up wheat, rye, oats, 
corn, barlev ^c, &c. Five of these 
were in Bainbridge. Two in Coventry. 
One in Smith villc. Three in Sher- 
burne. Two in Smyrna. One in Ply- 
mouth. Two • ifi Preston. Three in 
Pitcher. One in Pharsalia. Two in 
Otselic. Three in Oxford. Four in 
New Berlin. Six in Norwich and North 
Norwich. One in McDonough. One 
in Lincklean. Two in Greene. Five 
in Guilford. None in Colcunbus and 
German. 

The mills vary in size and capacity 
from two " run of stone" up to fujor. — 
We believe no wheat or other grain is 
prepared in the county for foreign mar- 
kets : But what is manufactured is com- 
sumed at home. Norwich in this year 
manufactured twenty four thousand sfs 
hundred and twenty dollars worth of the 
different grains. Oxford about thesame 
amount 

SAW MILLS. 

Of these there were 225 employed in 
the countv in 1845. Twenty two of them 
were in Norwich. Recently the ntnn- 
ber has increased beyond this estimate. 
The value of lumber sawed at these 
mills, in this year, amounted to ninety 
nine thousand, eighty^ one dollars. The 
value of the raw material got out for the 
mills was but fifty thousand four hun- 
dred and seventy seven dollars. New 
Berlin is put down in the census re- 
turns of that year as containing thirteen 
mills and the whole as turning out onlv 
six hundred dollars worth of lumber and 
as receiving but one hundred and ninety 
dollars zvorth of logs. This seems a 
low statement for so many mills. Co- 
lumbus with five mills turned out lum- 
ber in the same year to the value of e- 
leven hundred dollars. Bainbridge, with 
twenty one mills, sawed eighteen thou- 
! sand eighty eight dollars worth. Greene 



S() 



MiSTORV OF 



twi'lvo llioils;iii(i iiiiu' huiiihxd sfvcnly 
Kix dollars. Norwiih ini [linu;^aiid five 
limuirod foi-ty fivu dollars. a\J('Doiiont>-h 
niiicly !^ix luiiidrcd and lliirtv live dol- 
lars. Ciiillord sixty Juiiichx'd and sixty 
dollars. All llu- other towns lUianuCar- 
lurcd ot* linnbcr loss llian live thousand 
dollars in valiio. 

or late, tjie Messrs. Smiths of Nor- 
wich and others ill the conntv have jila- 
crd in the sawing mills a reaction water 
wheel that drives the saw with wonder- 
ful velocity. The wheel is fastened 
horizontally upon a perpendicular shaft. 
This pattern of wlieels is quite new and 
seems to possess advantages over nil 
others hitherto in use. 

<^)IL MILLS. 

In 1S15 there were three oil mills in 
tjic county. One in Norwich, anoth- 
er in Guill'ord and a third in Smyrna. — 
The value of the raw material used was 
forty three hundred dollars. After it 
was manufactured, the value w as liftv 
nine hundred. Earniui^s of these mills 
1600 dollars. 

FrLLLXC, MILLS. 

Of this class o\' mills there were in 
IS'lo as many as twenty three. Colum- 
bus, (Jerman, Greene, Liucklean and 
riiarsalia were the only towns in the 
county without them. Smyrna, Phiii- 
outh, Otselic, New Berlin, McDonougli 
and Coventry had one each. All of the 
remaining towns had two ea'di. The 
value of the raw material used in these 
various mills amounted to tliirlv seven 
thousand seven Inuidred and two dol- 
lars. The value of the same after it 
was manurfactured were fifiy one thou- 
sand eight hundred and seven dollars. 
Or 'he nett production or earnings of 
these mills amounted to fourtcn thousand 
one hundred and thirty eight dollars. 

CARDLXG !nL\(']IT\KS. 

In lS4o there werr twenty ,se\cn car- 
ding machines m the county. Golnni' 
bus, (lerman, Greene, LincUean and 
riiar.-alia were the onl'/ t^wn-. with'Mii 



j them. Ciiiillord liad four, the highest 
\ number in the county. The value of 
'the raw material used in thes'> (?^mills a- 
I mounted to forty iive thousand four hun- 
! dred and sixty st v mi doll; rs 'J'he same 
j after it was manulaciiH'ed anioiuited to 
fii'ty three thousand one h mdrcd eighty 
three dollars Nett earnings or wealth 
produced iiv these mills were seven 
thousand seven hundred and sixteen dol- 
lars. 

COTTOX FACTOKIKS. 

Of these there were in 1S4-5 but tn-o 
in the county. One in Guilford and one 
in NcWjBerlin. The one in Guilford 
consumed raw'Votton to the value of one 
tlioiisand dollars. The value of the 
manufactured article was twenty five 
hundred dollars. Nett proceeds fifteen 
hundred dollars. The New Berlin cot- 
ton factory consumed in this year of raw 
cotton sixteen thousand |^nine hundred 
and seventy five dollars worth of raw 
material. The manufactured article 
was valued at thirty six thousand six 
hundred and eighty three dollars. Nett 
proceeds for the year, 'nineteen thousand 
seven huiulrcd and eight dollars. Jn 
the estimates of profits of the diHerent 
mills we do not deduct the out-goes lor 
labor (^-c, ^'c. 

WOOLKX FACTOKIKS. 

There were six'of these factniirs in 
the county in LS45. Guillbrd contained 
two. Preston two aiul Smyrna and 
Pitcher cnc each. The \aluo of tjic 
material worked was sixty nine hundred 
aiul fifty four dollars. The value of the 
samf after it was numufacturcd amoun- 
ted to thirteen thousand three hundred 
and eighty eight dollars, jjj The profits 
of these mills according to this estimate 
for the year were sixty four iiundred and 
thirty four dollars. There were eigh- 
teen thousand two hundnvl and eii^ht 
yards of cloth made by these mills in 
this year. The woolen mill in Smvr- 
na also made upfour hundred and t\vplve. 
yards oi cct'ori and woolen cloth during 
tb.p > car. 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



SI 



IRON FOUNDRIES. 

The census of 1S45 records four iron 
foundries in the county ; two of them 
in Smithville ; one in Norwich and the 
fourth in Greene, The vahje of the ar- 
ticles wrought inthese establishments, 
was thirteen thousand seven hundred 
and sixty one dollars. The most exten- 
sive one was at Norwich. This foundry 
worked up nearly twice as much raw 
material as all the other mills. 

TRIP HAMMERS. 

Of these factories there were six in 
the county in the year 1845. Two were 
in McDonough ; and one in each of the 
towns of Greene, Smyrna, Plymouth 
and Pitcher. These consumed materi- 
al to the amount of seventeen hundred 
and five dollars. The value of the ar- 
ticles wrought amounted to four thou- 
sand eight hundred and sixty five dol- 
lars. Nett proceeds of these establish- 
ments including the expenditures of run- 
ning them were thirty one hundred and 
sixty dollars. 

DISTILLERIES. 

Of these establishments there were, 
in the county in the year 1S45, accord- 
ing to the state census, none at all ! ! ! 
How much Chenango has improved in 
this respect over the year 1813 will be 
apparent on reading an extract taken 
from the " New York State Gazette-r" 
printed in that year by Horatio Gates 
Spaflord. Mr. S. first compliments the 
county and concludes with the following 
disqualifying remarks. He says " while 
the people of the county are entitled to 
credit for their common Schools and so- 
cial regulations, they ought to exclude a 
multitude of small distilleries. No in- 
vidious discrimination prompts this re- 
mark, too generally necessary through- 
o)it the State — but thinking and sober 
men would do well to consider the ten- 
dencies of these little establishments, 
ani^ to observe their efTccls in a neigh- 
borhood. Cider is a ivkolcsome, cheap 
11 



beverage, which may be readily suppli- 
ed in profusion, to every part of the 
State ; and malt liquors are wholesome 
and mttri doits. Will people use equal 
industry to encourage the growth of an 
orchard of apple-trees, when once ad- 
dicted to a habit of exchanging their 
rye and other grain for whiskey ? Or 
will they fail to contract habits of drink- 
ing more than is conducive to health or 
comfort, when a jug of whiskey is ei- 
ther constantly at hand, or can be had in 
a few minutes fresh from the distil- 
lery ? But these observations apply 
equally to most of the Western counties, 
and they are deserving of notice." 

Whether there is any article in the 
modern temperance rubric allowing the 
use of cider and malt liquors as a whole- 
sortie and nutricimis beverage, in accord- 
ance with the recommendations of Mr. 
SpafTord, as given above, we will not 
pretend to determine. But Mr. S. wrote 
thirty six years ago — almost in another 
age, before temperance societies were 
developed, and at a time when every 
person kept ardent spirits in the cup- 
boards or on the side-board. As Mr. S. 
complimented our citizens highly in IS- 
IS, except they patronized distilleries, 
and as they had not one of these estab- 
lishments in the county in 1845, it fol- 
lows we must have been an unexcep- 
tionable people in this latter year. Long 
may we continue so ! 

ASHERIES. 

Chenango in 1845 contained nineteen 
asheries. Preston, Oxford, New Ber- 
lin, Norwich, Greene, Columbus and 
Bainbridge were the only towns without 
them. Pitcher had three and consumed 
of the raw material twenty four hundred 
and ten dollars in value. The quantity 
of ashes used in the different parts of 
the county for manufacturing purposes 
was twelve thousand seven hundred and 
ten dollars worth. Value of the manu- 
factured ashes was sixteen thousand five 
hundred and sixty one dollars. Nett 
proceeds over cost was thirty eight hun- 
dred and fiffv one dollars. 



I118T0KV OF 



KOl'K FACTORIES. 

There wore six of these in the ooiin- 
tv in ISlo. In Olselio two. New Ber- 
lin, Pharsalia, Guilfonl and Green con- 
tained eaoli ono. Tlio Fhiu'salia I'acio- 
ry alone consumed oi' raw material » no 
thousand dollars, and made tour thou- 
>*and dollars worth of rope. This cs- 
tabli.=.lun(Mit n\ade twice as much rope 
as anv two of the other esta'>li>;hmenis. 
The value of material wroui;hl in the 
county was thirty four hundred and ten 
doUaj-s ; after it was wrouo;ht the value 
was iijcreased to ninety eight hundred 
aud twenty dollars. Nett proceeds he- 
•w>en cost and the value after inan- 
uf.icture, sixty lour hundred and ton 
dollars. 

PAPER I^IILLS. 



There were two esfahlishments of 
this kind in the county, as noted down 
in the census of 1S45. One was in Mc- 
Donouirh and one in New Berlin. The 
two used in this year thirty fom- hun- 
dred and twenty dollars worth of mate- 
rial, and the value of the same after it 
was manufactured was ninety six hun- 
dred dollars. Wealth produced amoun- ^ 
ted to sixty one hundred and eighty dol- 
lars including expenses &:c. 

TANNERIES. 

Of these there were no less than thir- 
ty six in the county in the year lS4o. — 
German was the only town without one 
G-eenand Guillord each contained four. 
Value of the raw material nuide into 
leather was lifiy one thousand and fifty 
nine dollars ; the value of the leather 
manufactured was eighty six thousand 
five hiindred thirty four dollars. Wealth 
produced hy the tanneries foots uj 
thirty five thousand four hundred 
foventv five dollars. 



BREWERIES. 

The county contained two in ISlf) ; 
on{i in Norwich and the other in New 
Herlin. These woiked up of raw mai''- 
I rial, thirty one hmuirnl dollars. The 
' value of the same, manulactmrd was 
fifty three huiulred dollars, or twenty two 
hundred dollars over prime cost for ma 
terial. Wo shall a."ain h.ave occasion 
10 speak of the Norwich Jirewery, which 
at present makes ale for most of the 
towns situated helweeu Utica and Bing- 
hamton. 

In the year iJS-lo. according to the 
census returns, the county contained fit- 
ly one hundred and twenty two farmers. 
One' hundred and lifty five merchants. 
Two humlred forty three manufacturers. 
Twelve lumdred tliirty six mechanics. — 
Fifty one attorneys. Ninety four cler- 
gymen (receiving salaries and perquisites 
amounting in the aggregate to twenty 
three thousand, six hundred and seventy 
one dollars.) 

The county also contained seventy 
one physicians. It contained eighty imi- 
keepers. One hundred and tcn/stores ; 
exclusive of grocery stores. Of this 
numher twenty lour were in Norwich. — 
Nine in New Berlin. Eighteen in Ox- 
ford. Ten in Sherhurne and eleven in 
Greene. Of Grocery stores there were 
hut twenty four in the county. 



I at 
and 



CHURCHES OR HOUSES OF,Ut)R- 
SHn\ 

Having fmislied what we ha\e to of- 
fer the reader pertaining. to the jrgricul- 
ture, arts and manufactures of l!ie comi- 
ty in the year 1845, it being the year 
when the latest census was taken, wo 
next proceed to the Churches, Acade- 
mies, private, select and Comnuvi 
Schools in the ■■ ' <^'''>- (^in.v.i-. 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



8f3 



t-a and Academies we design to publish 
more details, under another arrangement 
of the history. Tli' r'^ we'e si v- n de- 
nominations in the county, composed of 
Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Baptist, Con- j 
gregational, Methodist, Quaker and Uni-|! 
verbalist Withui the past year 1849, || 

Roman Catholic Church has been! 

/'mded in Oxford. There were not i 

/lor are there now, so far as we are ad- i 

vised, any Dutch Reformed, I.j henn, I 

Unitarian or Jewish fleets among us, j 

The Baptist societies in 1845 had I 
luenty seven, Churches. The Presbyte- 
rian eight. The Episcopalian eight. — 
The Congregational thirteen. The 
Methodist twenty two, and the Univer- 
salist five. Wliole number eighty four 
including the Catholic. 

Of these various denominations the 
society wealth stands in 1845 as fol- 
lows : 

The Baptist Societies had invested in 
Church buildings, in real estate upon 
which the edifices were erected, and in 
other improvements connected with these 
the sum^of fifty four thousand one hun- 
dred dollars. Th'i Presbyterian nine- 
teen thousand seven hundred and sev- 
enty five dollars. The Episcopalian 
venty four thousand six hundred forty 

e dollars. The Congregational thirty 
ioiir thousand thirty five dollars. The 
Un iversalist fifteen thousand two hun- 
dred- and fifty dollars, and the Methodist 
thirty three thousand eight hundred and 
eighteen dollars. The foregoing state- 
ment^varies somewhat from our former 
conceptions of the v/ealth of the various 
Churches, but our estimates are derived 
from the census which is authority that 
mii>t govern «n thi.; point 

The Baptist society in Norwich is the 
•.v^althiest in the oouutv by several thou- I 
r.rt.id dollars. ■ ■ I 

The capital invested (in the county) in j 
Churches amounted in 1845 to one hun- 
dred eighty one thousand six hundred I 
twenty three dollars ; the Catholic socie- 
ty is not included in this estimate. The 
MT-althiest Presbyterian soeietyis'at Nor- 
wich. Oxford is second in wealth, the 
Pharsalia societv is third. In this vear 



there were in the towns of Smithvllle, 
Sherburne, Smyrna, Plymouth, Pitcher, 
Otselic, New Berlin, Lincklean, Bain- 
bridge, Coventry, Columbus and Ger- 
man no Presbyterian Churches, There 
were two societies in Pharsalia and one 
in each of the remaining towns in the 
county. 

There was no Baptist society in the 
towns of Plymouth, Pharsalia and Ger- 
man, The town of Greene had four so- 
cieties. Norwich three. Smithville, 
Smyrna, Sherburne, Preston, Otselic, 
New Berlin and Guilford contained two 
societies each. The remaining seven 
towns contained one society each. 

In the towns of Coventry, Columbus, 
German, Lincklaen, McDonough, Otse- 
lic, Pharsalia. Pitcher, Preston, Plym- 
outh, Smyrna and Smithville there were 
no Episcopalian Churches in 1845. 

In Guiltord there were two, and one 
in each of the other towns in the Coun- 
ty. 

The Citizens of New Berlin have re- 
cently erected anEpiscopal house in that 
village on an extensive scale. The build- 
ing is constructed in the early style of 
Gothic architecture, and carries the spec- 
tator back, in imagination, to thej^rlc 
ages. In estimating the Epi^^al 
wealth in the county this costly edifice 
is not taken into the account. 

The New-Berlin Church is worthy of 
a more elaborate notice than we shall be 
able to give to it in this place. We may 
recur to it again. In the mean time, if 
our citizens desire to examine a rude 
structure, different from every other and 
all things else in the county, we advise 
them not to deprive themselves of the 
gratification of paying one vi-^it to this 
neat, compact and unique Church. 

The towns of Greene, German, Mc- 
Donough, Norwich, Oxford, Otselic, 
i Pharsalia, Preston ard Smithville were 
I each in 1845 without a Congregational 
I Church building. Coventry ,"New Ber- 
j lin and Pitcher had two each. The re- 
maining towns had one each. The Con- 
I gregational'property in Pitcher has cost, 
j including grounds and improvements 
jmade to the buildings, the surn of 4,700 
dollars. 



84 



HISTORY OF 



The aggregate cost of the Presbyteri- 
an and Congregational liouses of wor- 
ship in the county, inchiding grounds 
and improvements, amounts to the sum 
of Fifty-three thousand eight hundred 
and ten dollars. Many, very many of 
the early settlers here from New Eng- 
land belonged to the Congregationalists 
sect of Christians. 

Passing the Congregationalists we 
next come to the Methodist Denomina- 
tion. The towns of Columbus, German, 
Preston, Pharsalia, and Otselic contain- 
ed no churches of this persuasion in the 
year 1845. In the town of Guilford 
there were three Methodist churches, at 
a cost of Fifty-five hundred and forty 
dollars for buildings, grounds and im- 
provements. Bainbridge, Greene, Nor- 
wich, New Berlin, Pitcher and Smyrna 
each contained two Methodist cliurches 
and the remaining towns contained one 
each. 

There was in 1S45, one society of 
Quakers in Smyrna, the only one m the 
county. The cost of their church, 
grounds and improvements may be put 
down at Eight hundred and forty dollars. 

There was, in 1845, a society of Uni- 
veraalists in each of the towns of Bain- 
bri^e, Columbus, North Norwich, Ox- 
fordand Smithville. There were no 
others in the county. The Oxford Con- 
gregation was the wealthiest of the five. 
The cost of the Church, grounds and 
improvements of the Oxford society a- 
mounted to thirty five hundred and fifty 
dollars. The cost to the Bainbridge 
Congregation for house, grounds and im- 
provements, amounted to three thousand 
dollars. We have estimated the wealth 
of the various denominations by the val- 
ue of their Church property. In a few 
instances congregations or societies are 



yet indebted for buildings and grounds. 

Indeed, religious societies in this slat*; 
are apt to exhaust so much of the r 
means in the construction of cob.'.l , 
Churches as to have but little left to ( ( - 
fray the expense of preaching. We v.i\- 
not aware of but few Churches in tin- 
county at present struggling to pay oil" 
their building debt. Wherever this oc- 
curs, the clergyman is but indifferently 
paid for his services. No clergyman 
can be thoroughly and efficiently useful 
to his flock, whose spirits are constantly 
depressed by impending want. No class 
of men in the United States labour, in 
aggregates more than clergymen and no 
class of labourers are more poorly paid. 
The strictest economy enables the mass 
of them to work out a subsistence in the 
pulpit, but with a certain prospect of po- 
verty in old age. 

There were no Colleges, Universities, 
Female-Seminaries or Normal Schools 
in the county in 1845 ; and none at pre- 
sent so far as we are informed. There 
were Academies, Common, Private anj 
Select Schools. 

We propose to give a brief account 
of each of these institutions of learn- 
ing. 

It was but a few years ago, that the 
only Academy proper, in the county was 
the Oxford institution. Most of the 
youths seeking a classical education 
were sent abroad ; some to Hamilton, 
some to Homer and others to Hartwick, 
in Otsego County. The recent estab- 
lishment of academies in many towns in 
the county, and the supply of thorough- 
ly educated teachers, renders learnmg in 
Chenango no longer the especial privil- 
ege of wealth, as formerly it was. It is 
worthy of remark, as illustrating the 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



85 



fiualifications of our teachers, that Mr. I 
Paige, recent principal of the Norwich 
Academy, after leaving that town, was 
promptly elected professor of Mathemat- 
ics, in Geneva College ; to fill a vacan- 
cy occasioned by the resignation of Pro- 
fessor Webster, one of the very best 
ticholars, (in figures) that the West 
Point Academy ever graduated. 

ACADEMIES. 

There were four of these institutions 
in the county in 1845. They were dis- 
tributed in the towns of New Berlin, 
Oxford, Sherburne and Norwich. The 
amount of Capital invested in these in- 
stitutions for buildings, grounds and im- 
provements, was twenty one thousand 
one hundred and fifteen dollars. The 
monies invested in the Sherburne insti- 
tution were thirty three hundred dollars. 
In the Oxford academy there was inves- 
ted eighty six hundred seventy six dol- 
lars. In the New Berlin academy twen- 
ty-nine hundred and fifty dollars ; and in 
the Institution at Norwich sixty one hun- 
dred and eighty nine dollars. 

The Oxford Academy is, by far, the 
oldest institution of learning in the coun- 
ty- 
PRIVATE AND SELECT SCHOOLS. 

There were twenty two of these in 
the county in 1845. Columbus, Guil- 
ford, German, Lincklean, New Berlin 
Oxford, Otselic, Pharsalia and Smith- 
ville were the only towns without them. 
Bainbridge supported four. McDonough 
Norwich and Pitcher had three each. 
Smyrna, Plymouth and Greene had two 
each. There was one in each of the 
remaining towns. The cost of build- 
ings, grounds and improvements for 
these amounted to fifteen hundred and 
ten dollars. Eight hundred and twenty 
five pupils attended these schools. 



COMMON SCHOOLS. 

We come now to speak of Common 
Schools, so frutly he boast and glory not 
only of Chenango, but of the State at 
large. We propose, even at the hazard 
of fatiguing the reader with multiplied 
Statistics, to enter upon an account of 
the origin and progress of the Common 
School system, from its early dawn 
down to the time when it attained its 
meridian. We begin by transferring to 
onr pages, the remarks of J. H. Mather 
and L. P. Brockett, M. D.— publishers 
of a " Geographical History of the State 
of New York" (printed in the year 1848, 
on the origin and History of 'the Com- 
mon School system. They remark : 

" Though less zealous in the cause of 
popular education than the early settlers 
of New England, yet, ere the forest had 
been felled, or the Indian War-hoop 
ceased to be heard, in the neighborhood 
of the white-settlements, the sturdy Hol- 
landers of New York began to provide 
for the education of their children. 

" In 1633, Adam Rolandsen, the first 
school-master of New Amsterdam, arri- 
ved in that city. In 1642 the Patroon, 
Van Ransaelaer, sent over a school-mas- 
ter for his " colonie." 

" The first classical school or acade- 
my, was established in New York City, 
the teacher being sent out from Holland 
by the Dutch West India Company. In 
all the Dutch settlements, provision was 
early made for schools." 

" In 1687, a Latin School was open- 
ed in the city of New York, under the 
sanction of the English Government. In 
1702, the first legislative action, rela- 
tive to education, occurred. This act 
provided for the establishment of a gram- 
mer school, and appropriated fifty pounds 
per annum, for seven years, for the sup- 
port of a teacher." 

" Another act was passed, in 1732, to 



Nt) 



HISTORY or 



incoarage a public-school, in the city and 
rounty of New York, for teaching Lat- 
in, Greek and Mathematics." 

" Under this act a free-school was es- 
tablished, and endowed wilh forty pounds 
a year for hve years ; and ten scholars 
were to be sent from New York, two 
from Albany, and one from each of the 
other counties, making twenty ni all. — 
This school was the germ of Columbia 
Colloi;e in New York city." 

" In 1743 the Kev. Mr. Dunlap, of 
Cherry-Valley, Otsego county, estab- 
lished the first grammer-school in the 
State, west of Albany. Between 1746 
and 1756, several acts were passed, au- 
thorizing the raising of moneys, by lot- 
tery, for founding a College in New 
York, and in 1754, King's College was 
chartered." 

" After the establishment in 1777 of a 
state government in New York, the in- 
terest of the people began to be awa- 
kened to the necessity of popular educa- 
tion. On the first day of May, 173i,an 
act was passed, changing the name of 
King's-College to Columbia College, and 
establishing the board of regents of the 
University of New York." 

"In 17S9, lands were especially set a- 
part, in the several new townships, for 
ihe promotion of literature, and the sup- 
port of Connnon Schools. The proceeds 
of certain lands were also appropriated, 
in 1790, by the regents, to the institu- 
tion under their care. Their income, 
arising from this source, in 1792, was in- 
creased by the grant of fifteen hundred 
pounds per annum, for five years. 

" In 1 793, the regents, in their report, 
suggested the importance of establishing 
schools in various parts of the State, for 
instructing children in the lower branch- 
es of education. These suggestions 
were renewed for the two years follow- 
ing, and in 1795, a common-school sys- 
tem Avas established. 

" In iSOl, an act was passed, author- 
izing the establishment of four lotteries, 
to raise the sum of twenty five thousand 
dollars each, one half to be paid to the 
regents of the University, and the other 
to the State Treasury, to be applied for 



the usp of Common Schools. This was 
the foundation of the " literature and 

Common School fund." 

" In S05, five hundred thousand a- 
cres of public laud wert- appropriated to 
the use of Common Schools. (This ap- 
propriation is explained in a subsequent 
page of the history.) In addition to this, 
three thousand shares of Bank Stock, 
were also appropriated, as a iund to as- 
sist in the support of these scliools." 

" The first State Superintendent was 
Gideon Hawley, Esq., appointed in the 
year 18 1 3." 

" In the year 183S, the sum of one 
hundred sixty five thousand dollars per 
year, from the annual revenue of the 
United States deposite fund, was added 
to the amount previously distributed — 
Of this amount, fifty five thousand dol- 
lars was to be expended yearly, in the 
purchaseiof suitable books for district li- 
braries " 

Anicie nine of the State Constitution 
of 1S46, ^'.section first, reads in this wise : 
" The Capital of the Common School 
Fund ; the Capital of the Literature 
Fund, and the Capital of the U. States 1). 
Fund, shall be respec'ively preserved in- 
violate Tlie revenue of the said Com- 
mon School Fundsiiall l»e applied to the 
suppovt of Common Schools, the revenues 
of the said Literature Fund shall be ap- 
plied to the support of Academies, an d 
the sum of twenty-five taousand dollars 
<*f the revenues of ihe United^States de- 
posite Fund shall each year be appropri- 
ated to and made a part of the Ca|iital 
of the said Common School Fund." 

The editors of the State history con- 
tinue. " Of these State lands, i. e. school 
lands as yet unsold, (in iSiS) there re- 
main about three hundred and fifty thou- 
sand acres. King mostly in the northern 
part of the State, and valued at one hun- 
dred and seventy five thousand dollars. 
These constitute the unproductive por- 
tion of the school fund." 

On the 26th March 1 850, a select 
committee of the legislature, to whom 
was referred a!l petitions/or the amend- 
ment or repeal of the free School Law ; 
bv Lewis Kinp-slev, their chairman, re- 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



87 



ported an historical account of the origin 
of " Common Schools" in this State. — 
We will lay before the reader a brief ac- 
count of Mr. K's. investigations. 

'' In the year ]79o the legislature ap- 
propriated fifty thousand dollars armually 
ibr five years, among the difiere; t towns 
in the State tc|raaintaincommon schools. 
The towns were to raise a sum, equal 
to that granted for the same purpose. — 
In the year iSOo, the legislature made a 
permanent fund, created out of land sales 
for the support of these schools. Under 
the first law no more than one hundred 
and forty nine thousand, two hundred 
and fifty dollars was actually paid by the 
State. The last payment was made in 
]801. After this year, down to the year 
I8l4 no payments weie made by the 
State for Common School purposes. Af- 
this year, the act of ISOo became oper- 
ative and yielded a revenue to the schools. 
The terms of this act required the comp- 
troller to receive from the Surveyor- Gen- 
eral the income of five hundred thou- 
sand acres of land to be sold and invest 
it, by loan, on bonds and mortgages, un- 
til the accumulation of interest paid in, 
and again loaned out, together with the 
sum realized from land sales, should 
yield fifty thousand dollars annually of 
interest. This last mentioned amount to 
be distributed among the school districts 
once in each year. 

In the year 1810 another act was pass- 
ed providing payment to the clerks of 
the Supreme Court their fees, and the 
excess to be appropriated to the Common 
School fund. It was several years be- 
fore a surplus was realized from this 
source. After some seventy eight thou- 
sand dollars had been received, under 



this act, it was repealed in the year 
182!. 

In the year 1811 the Governor of the 
State, under a power conferred in the 
" supply bill," appointed three commis- 
sioners, to report lu the next legislature 
a system for the organization and estab- 
lishment of Common Schools. On a 
report of this committee, the legislature 
on the 19ih June 1812 passed a law 
which was the basis of the recent Com- 
mon School system, abolished in the 
year 1849, to make room for the free- 
school plan — at present a novel experi- 
ment and bv many, thought to be invol- 
ved in serious uncertainty. Under the 
law of 1812 a State superintendent was 
appointed with authority to apportion the 
public monies to such towns as volunta- 
rily raised an equal amount by tax. In 
1814 the Supervisors of each County 
were authorized to raise, by compulsory 
tax on the several towns annually, a sum 
equivalent to that received by them from 
the State. 

In the year 1821 the Secretary of 
State became ex officio, the State Super- 
iniendent of the Common Schools. 

The first appropriation, for the benefit 
of Common Schools, arising from the 
fund created in 1805, w^as made in 1814 
and amounted only to forty eight thou- 
sand three hundred and seventy six dol- 
lars. 

This small fund of 1805 was the nuc- 
leus around which, by various appropri- 
ations and other means, stupendous 
School wealth has since u^cumidated. — 
Asa i-mall body of snow, tumbling down, 
the mountain side increases its volume 
at each revolution ; so the School fund 
has increased, in many ways, until in the 



88 



HISTOKV OF 



year ISjO, it amounts to two million two 
kunund and fort ij four thousand dol- 
lars. From thiis ruiid is annually distri- 
Inited among Connnou Soliools, no less 
tlian, two hundred and eig-Iuy lire thou- 
sand doUnrs. The fund itself is still in- 
creasing. The nunibrr of children at- 
tending these Schools in 1849 was eight 
hundred thousand. 

Mr. Kingsley briefly slates the pro- 
visions o^ the Coninion School law re- 
cently abolished, as follow.-^ : 

" By that system the State annually 
distributed to the several towns within 
its borders, their proportionate share of 
the revenues ofthe Common School tund. 
The boards of Supervisors, at their an- 
nual meetings caused to be levied, on 
eacli of the towns in their counties, a 
sum equal in amount to that received 
from the State, and such further sums 
as the electors of the town might have 
directed ; these sums (with the addition 
of that received by some towns from /o- 
ca/ and other funds, and amounting, in 
all the State, to an annual average of 
5J20,000) made the public money of the 
town. This was divided among the se- 
veral School districts of the town in 
proportion to the number of children 
therein, over five and undersixteen years 
of age, according to the last report ol'the 
district trustees. Schools were to be 
kept during four months in each year, 
and for such longer time as the trustees 
should determine, and the amount re- 
maining due for teachers wages, after 
deducting the public money, was raised 
by rate-bills from those sending to the 
school, they being taxed for that purpose 
in proportion to the mmiber of days their 
children had attended the school. The 
system worked well. Minor defects wore 
from time to time discovered in it, which 
were rectified as fast and as well as pos- 
sible. No material alterations wore 
made in it from thr time of its institu- 
tion in 1S12, except those before' men- 
tioned, until within a very recent peri- 
od/' 



Mr. Kingsley next recites the features 
of the " Free School Latr' as follows : 
" In the tirst place, it provided that. 
Common Schools in the several school 
districts of the State shall be free to all 
persons residing in the district over five 
and under twenty one years of age," 
and that non-residents might be admit- 
ted, on such terms as the trustees should 
impose. It nevt provided that, in addi- 
tion to the amount of public money be- 
fore raised, there should be collected, 
by a tax levied on the counties, a stitn 
equal to that received by the cou7i' 
titfs from the State ; making an increase 
of ffty per centum upon the amount 
theretofore raised by tax. The whole 
amount so raised, to be divided among 
the districts in the same manner as by 
the previous law," &c. " Then came 
the third section of the act, which, *ta- 
king that power frotn the trustees, in 
I whose hands it had before been, gave to 
tlie inhabitants of the district the voting 
I o( what the Common School expenses 
of the district for the succeeding year 
should be ; and the amount they fixed, 
after deducting the public money, was 
to be raised, by a tax upon the property 
j of the district liable to taxation." 
! Upon the merits or demerits of the 
" Free-School-Law" we shall personal- 
ly express no opinion. ThE law of lS-19 
was certainly defective in some, at least, 
of its details. These defects the legis- 
lature has professed to correct. Wheth- 
i er this body has amended"for the better 
remains to be adjudicated at th? coming 
elections. Chenango County gave in 
: 1S49, a very unequivocal vote against 
■ the adoption of free schools to take the 
! place of the time honored Common- 
I Schools. What her sentiments may be 
at the poles the coming fall ISoO re- 
mains to be seen. 

When upon the subject of the tweiuv 
townships we referred (at page r>2) to the 
" Gospel and School Lots." We then 
traced these no farther down than to the 
year ISOJ, when the Surveyor General 



CHENANGO COUNTT. 



81 



was directed to cause forty lots, contain- 
jnc,' two hundred and fifty acres each, or 
ten thousand acres in gross, to be survey- 
ed and laid out in the western land dis- 
trict, to support schools and the preach- 
ing of the gospel. By a law passed in 
the yt'ar iSll, the Surveyor General 
was directed to lay out forty lots in the 
tract of land then lately purchased of the 
Oneida Indians, south of and adjoining 



divide said. lands into twenty lots of one 
hundred and forty-four acres ; and twen- 
ty lots of one hundred and sixty acres ; 
and twenty lots of one hundred and 
ninety-six acres ; wliich lots they divi- 
ded by giving each town one lot of one 
hundred and forty-four acres, one lot of 
one hundred and sixty acres, one lot of 
i one hundred and ninety-six acres, and 
made a description of the same, which 



the Oneida Lake, or on such lots in the I was by them duly proved, and was re- 
military tract (we have before described |i corded in Madison County Clerk's Of- 



the military tract, page 24,) as then be- j 
longed to the State. The Surveyor! 
General accordingly surveyed and laid I 
out the forty lots in the tract purchased] 
of the Oneida Indians. No provisions 
were made for apportioning these lands I 
among the different townships until j 
June, 1812. A law was then passed 
authorizing the inhabitants of each of 
the twenty tovrnships, comprising in part 
the citizens of Chenango, Madison and 
Oneida counties, to elect an agent to 
lake charge of the lots, to lease the 
same, to bring suits for trespasses there- ] 
on, etc. Commissioners were at the j 
same time appointed to divide the forty I 
lots among the twenty townships, or | 



fice, &c." 

" Therefore be it enacted that the 
doings of the said commissioners in di- 
viding said lots are hereby confirmed, 
&c. &c. 

Under this law the rights of the tf.wns 
to the school and gospel lots became, for 
the first time, fixed and determined. — 
Twenty-three years elapsed between the 
time they were bestowed by the Legisla- 
ture and the time they came actually to 
be enjoyed by the towns i^.s the donees. 
Other laws relative to these lots have 
been passed by the Legislature from 
time to time. We believe the last luw 
was passed in the year lS2o. Some of 
the towns have sold their share of the 



Governor's Purchase, givmg two lots to | lots and devoted the proceeds wholly to 
each township. This duty being per- j school purposes. The moneys arising 
formed, the acts of the commissioners' upon sales being loaned out on bonds 



were ratified by a law passed in April,! 

1814, which was to the following effect :j 

"Whereas, by an act of the Legisla-| 

t'lre of this State, passed on the 16th | 



and mortgages. We are not able to in- 
form the reader the amount realized from 
the sale of these lots. Nor can we a?- 
certain how far they contributed to the 

day of June, 1812, authorizing the twen-!{ support of town schools. We believe 

ly towns west of and adjoining theUna-lith 

dilla river, to elect one ao-ent from each 



town, and said agents to meet at Sher- 
burne on the last Tuesday of March 
then following, and there by a plurality 
of votes of said agents, so assembled, to 
elect three commissioners, whose duty it 
was made to divide said lots, giving to 
each town two of said lots, and having' 
. nid division of lots as nearly as possible' 
nf an equal value. And whereas, the! 
agents did mt^et, and by a plurality ofj 
voles elect Amos Maynard, Thompson | 
Mead and Chester Hammond commis-i 
sioners, to divide i^aid lots as equally asi 
pu.ssibic : and said commissioners did | 



jjthe ten thousand acres set apart by the 
Surveyor General, lay in the extreme 
north part of Madison county, and hence 
the deed of partition by the commission- 
ers, was recorded in that county. The 
lots that fell to Norwich under the allot- 
ment made by the commissioners, Messrs. 
Maynard, Mead and Hammond, lay in 
the town of Sullivan, Madison county. 
" Gospel and school lots" were not 
confined to the twenty townships. Cov- 
entry, Greene, Guilford, Bainbridgo 
Oxford and other towns out of the twen- 
ty townships received lots from the State 
for school and gospel purposes. The 
various lots have been in some instance? 
J 2 



*yo 



HISTORY OF 



sold, ami the iBoncys arising on the 
sales invested or loaned out on bonds 
and mortgages, as was done in the 
twenty townships. The inhabitants of 
other tovA'^nships out of the twenty towns 
have leased the lots, retaining the title. 
The town of Oxford let out its lot, tak- 
ing a perpetual lease. We believe the 
fractions of the lots devoted to the 
support of the gospel, were afterwards 
wholly applied to the maintenance of 
schools. The "school and gospel lot" 
in the original township of Greene, 
contained (340 acres, or a mile square 
originally. Afterwards the town of Cov- 
entry was set off from the township 
of Gfreene, and the new town drew 
as its share one-third part o^ the lot. — 
The lot, for the purpose of a division, 
Avas divided into six equal parts. The 
division was made in the year 1825. — 
In April of the same year the Legisla- 
ture authorized Eussel Waters and 
Woodward Warren to sell that part of 
the school and gospel lot that fell to 
Coventry in the partition made with 
Greene, and to invest the moneys arising 
from the sale on bond and mortgage for 
the sole use of schools in the new town. 

Guilford was set off from Oxford un- 
der the name of Eastern. In the year 
1817 a law was passed authorizing the 
supervisors and overseers of the two 
towns to meet together at the house of 
William Gable, in Eastern, and divide 
the school and gospel lot, as well as the 
moneys, notes, bonds and other securi- 
ties arising from it. 

In Bainbridge the " Congregational 
Society of Celicia" leased out the school 
and gospel lot, containing 640 acres, 
and belonging to that town. In the 
year 1819 the Legislature transferred 
the management of the securities taken 
by this religious society to the school 
commissioners, with authority to divide 
the rents and profits between the schools 
and churches, as the inhabitants might 
direct. 

The " School and Gospel lots" appro- 
priated to the twenty townships were be- 
stowed exclusively for the benefit of the 
inhabitants of the townships, as such. — 



As some of the towns in (his count\ 
contained two or more townships, o- 
parts of several townships, difficuhie? a.-. [, 
to the distribution of the income arisipi: 
from these lots, among the schools, in - ; 
quently arose. There was a prevalciu 
idea among citizens that the lots beltnii'- 
ed to an entire town, rather than to ilio , 
original township or to\\nships, irre?pect- ! 
ive of town boautl-aries. i 

Thus the people of the town of Nor- 
wich, in town meeting, voted upon the 
appointment of agents to superintend the 
school and gospel lots belonging to the 
tenth and fifteenth townshijis. Indeed 
the coni'usion became so great, that in 
the year 1819 the Legislature enacted a 
law relative to the management of the 
moneys arising i'rom the sales of these 
same lots. One provision of the laAV 
was, " that on the day of the annual 
town meeting for the town of Norwich, 
the inhahitants of tlie fifteenth township 
should, separate and apart from the in- 
habitants of the other part of the same 
town, elect an agent for the fifteenth 
township, Avhose name and election must 
be recorded by the town clerk in tiiP 
book of town records in Norwich." — 
Consider Coomes is the present agent 
for the fifteenth township. Another 
clause of the law authorized the citizens 
of North Norwich to elect an agent an- 
nually for the same purpose. The first 
election to be held at the house of Tim- 
othy Hunt. This agent was to be elect- 
ed for the tenth township. In the lan- 
guage of the law, the citizens were to 
hold the election annually '•7tntil the 
ioumship shall be erected into a separate 
town.'" It would seem from this that 
the citizens of North Norwich contem- 
plated being set off into a separate town 
thirty yeais ago. In 1835 a new mis- 
understanding arose in relation to these 
school moneys, which called forth an 
elaborate opinion from Gen. Dix, State 
Superintendent. This opinion will be 
found among the common school decis- 
ions of 1837. 

In 1845 there were of common schools 
in the county two hundred and sixty- 
two. The average attendance of pupiL= 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



91 



amounted to five thousand three hundred 
■and forty-nine. The number on the 
it-uchers' list was eight thousand three 
hundred and sixty-eight. In the census 
returns of this year three towns are put 
down as having no pupils in aitendauce 
on these schools. The town of Otselic 
is set down as having no common schools, 
iiainhridge had twenty-seven, the high- 
est number in the county. German had 
eight, the lowest number. Norwich, 
twenty-live. Sherburne, twenty. Ux- 
ibrd, nineteen. Greene and Guilford, 
eighteen each. Lincklaen, McDonough, 
Pharsalia and Pitcher, ten each. Smyr- 
na, fifteen. Coventry, eleven. Plymouth, 
thirteen. Smithville, fourteen. New 
lierlin, sixteen. Preston and Columbus, 
nine each. 

The cost of common school buildings, 
sites for them and their improvements 
amounted in the year IS45, in the coiiu- 
ty, to forty-two thousand four hundred 
and forty-seven dollars. Greene had 
live hundred and fifty-five pupils in at- 
tendance — the greatest number of any 
of the towns. Preston only one hundred 
and sixty-two, which was the least num- 
ber. 

We arc happy to inform the reader 
that we have now closed our abstract of 
the census of 18-15. The technical in- 
terpretation of the term census, is " an 
enumeration of the inhabitants of a coun- 
try or district." But of late years the 
term seems to have been extended and 
applied indiscriminately not only to ac- 
cuuul uf human beings, but to a recapit- 
ulation of all things animate and inani- 
mate, tience in speaking of the popu- 
lation of the county, we have been im- 
perceptibly diverted into a description of 
every thing appertaining to that popula- 
tion. 

In the foregoing statistics we omitted 
to mention that the valuation of taxable 
property in Chenango, in the year 1845, 
.amounted to the sum, in round numbers, 
oi four ■inilliona one hundrtcl and thirttj- 
tkree thousand two hundred and j'ifiij- 
six dollars. 

In the Comptroller's report, 1850, wo 
iiud -736,2(51 acres f.f ta>:able land in 



the county. Assessed value of real es- 
tate is $3,712,089 ; of personal estate 
8582,943 ; aggregate valuation $4,2'j5,- 
6'32. The amount of state and county 
tax as presented to be raised in Chenan- 
go, i 13,809, GO- 100. Amount of town 
taxes to be raised ^ 13, TiT 19-100. To- 
tal taxation upon this county for ISjO, 
$26,936 7^-100. 



MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY. 

The following is a complete catalogue 
of members of Assembly who have rep- 
resented Chenango county : 

179-7 '9y, the 2 J St and '22d session of 
the Legislature, Isaac Foote represented 
Herkimer county, which included part 
of Chenango, and Benjamin Hovey rep- 
resented Tioga county, which included 
the remaining part of Chenango. 

1800— 23d session, Nathaniel King 
and Petet B. Guernsey. 

1801 — 24th session, Jonathan For- 
man and James Glover. 

IS02 — 25th session, Joshua Merse- 
reau, Jr., and Nathaniel King. 

1803 — ^26th session, James Green, Jo- 
el Thompson, Stephen Hoxie and Uri 
Tracy. 

1804 — 27th session, Joseph Moore, 
Stephen Hoxie, Obadiah German and 
Joel Thompson. 

1805 — 28th session, Luther Water- 
man, Samuel Payne, Obadiah German 
and Peter Betts. 

1S06 — l'9th session, Sylvanus Small- 
ey, Samuel Payne, Benjamin Jones and 
Jonathan Morgan. 

1807— 30th session, Obadiah Ger- 
man and Joseph Simonds, 

1808 — 31st session, Peter Betts and 
Obadiah German. 

1809 — 3id session, Obadiah German 
and Samuel Campbell. 

1810 — 33d session, Nathaniel Locke, 
John Noyes and Ebenezer Wakeley. 

1811— 34th session, Peter Betts," Jo- 
seph Simonds and Thompson Meade. 

ISl^i — 35th session, Samuel Camp- 
bell, Dennison Randall and Silas Holmes. 

36th session, an adjourned one. 

1814 — 3Tth session, Hascal Ransford, 
James Houo-htaling and John Nuyes. 



HISTORY OF 



1814— 3Sth session, Robert Monell, 
John Guthrie and T]iump:>on Meade. 

181G — 39th session, 'Fhonias Brown, 
Russel Waters and \Villi;iin. Monroe. 

181G— 40tli t^essiun, James Houg-h- 
taling, Ebenezer Wakeley and Samuel 
A. Smith. 

1818— 41st session, Perez liaiidall, 
Simon G. 'J'hroop and Tilley Liude. 

1819 — 42d session, Obabiah German, 
Ebenezer Wakeley and Thomas Hum- 
phre y. 

1S'20 — 43d session, Thomas Hum- 
phrey, Samuel A. Smith and Saniuel 
ijampbell. 

Jb20 — 44th session. Edmund G. Per 
Lee, William Mason and John Tracy, j 

1822— 45th session, Edmund G. Per 
Lee, ^V'illiam Mason and John Tracy. 

1823— 46th session, Silas Holmes, 
Stephen Stilwell and Austin Hyde. 

1S24 — 47th session, John Latham, 
Daniel Root and John F. Hutbard. 

1S25— 4Sth session, Russel Case, Rob- 
ert Monell and Charles Med bury. 

1826— 49th session, John Tracy, Rob- 
ert Monell and Tilley Liude. 

1827 — oOth session, James Birdsall, 
Augustus 0. Welch and .loseph .luiiand. 

1828- 51st session, Robert Monell, 
Tilley Lynde and Henry Mitchell. 

1829— 52d session, A'mos A. Frank- 
lin, Russel Case and Abel Chandler. 

l830 — 53d session, Charles Squires, 
John Latham and Jarvis K. Pike. 

1831 --54th session, Ira Willcox, Jo- 
seph Juliand and Jarvis K. Pike. 

1832 — 55th session, Edmund G. Per 
Lee, Joseph Juliand and Noah Ely. 

1833 — 56th session, Austin Hyde, 
Abel Chandler and Wm. M. Patterson. 

1834— 57th session, Milo Hunt, Jo- 
seph P. Chamberlin and Wells Wait. 

1835 — oSth session, iJendrick Grain, 
Henry Crary and Woodward Warren. 

1836 — 59th session, W iliiam Knowl- 
ton, Nicholas B. Mead and Squire 
Smith. 

1S37 — -GOth session. Squire Smith, 
Isaac Stokes and John F. Hill. 

1838— 6lst session, Demas Hubbard, 
Jr., Henry Balcom and Justus Parce. 

1839 62d session, Demas Hubbard , 



Jr., Josiah G. Olney and Samuel Drew. 
T ^»'t*^n~*^^'^ session, Demas Hubbard, 
Jr., VV ilham Church and Samuel Plimib, 

1841— 64th session, Calvin Cole' 
Benson H. Wheeler and Eber Uimmick'. 

184.' — 65th session, Richard W. Ju- 
liand, Clark Burn ham and Adam Sto- 
ring-. 

1843— 66th session, Samuel Medbu- 
ry, Dauforth V\ ales and Edward Corn- 
ell. 

1844 — 67th session, Daniel Noyes, 
Erastus Dickinson and Rensselaer "w! 
Clark. 

1845— 6Sth session, Solomon S. Hall, 
Charles B. Miller and Joel Burtlick. 

Ib46 — G;ith session, Solomon Ensio-n, 
Jr., William G. Sands and Hiram E. 
Storrs. 

1847 — 70th session, Ransom Balcom 
and David McWhorter. 

1848— 7 1st session, Levi II. Case 
and Ezra P. Church. 

1849 — 72d session, James Clark and 
Alonzo Johnson. 

1850— 73d session, Isaac L. F. Gush- 
mau and Rufus Chandler. 

1851 — 74th session, Laman Inger^^oU 
and Gen. Levi tt arris. 

In 1826 John C. Clark obtained the 
certificate and took his seat. But Til- 
ley l^inde finally displaced hini, and be- 
came the member ia his place. 

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. 

Chenango county was organized in 
the year 1798. But the northern part, 
or what was known as the Herkimer 
portion of Chenango, was in one Con- 
gressional district, and the southern part 
known as a parcel of Tioga county, was 
in another ; and the county so continued 
until the year 1803. In this year the 
entire county was placed iu the same 
Congressional district. The public are 
indebted to Messrs. John Tracy and 
Henry Bennett ibr the subjoined cata- 
logue of members of the national legis- 
lature : 

Gen. John Patterson, of Broome coun- 
ty, was the representative from 1803 to 
1S05. 



CHENANGO COUNTY, 



93 



Uvi Tracy, of Oxford, in Chenango 
€Ounty, was the representative from 
1805 "to 1807. 

Reuben Humphrey, of Onondaga 
county, was the representative from 
J 807 "to lb09. 

Uri Tracy, of Chenango county, \Vas 
again representative from IS09 to 1813. 

Joel Thompson, of Chenango county, 
was the representative from 1813 to 
1815. 

James Birdsall, of Chenango county, 
was the representative from 1815 to 
1817. 

John R. Drake, of Tioga county, was 
the representative from 1817 to Iblli. 

Robert Monell, of Clrenango county, 
was the representative from 1819 to 
1821. 

Samuel Campbell, of Chenango coun- 
ty, was ihe representative from J8'iL to 
18-23. 

Lot Clark, of Chenango count}', was 
the representative from 1823 to 1825. 

Elias Whittmore, of Broome county, 
was the representative from 1825 to 
18-27. 

John C, Clark, of Chenango county, 
was the representative from 1827 to 
1829. 

Robert Monell, of Chenango county, 
was again representative from 1829 to 
1831. 

John A. Collier, of Broome county, 
was the representative from 1^:31 to 
1833. I 

Henrv Mitchell, of Chenango county, j 
was the representative from 1S33 to ! 
1835. 

William Mason, of Chenango county, I 
was the representative from 1835 to 
1837. 

John C, Clark, of Chenango county, 
was again representative from 1837 to 
1839. Mr, Clark was re-elected in 
1839, and again chosen in 1841, and re- 
tired in 1813, having served six years in 
succession. 

Smith M. Purdy, of Chenango coun- 
ty, was the representative from 1843 to 
1845. 

Stephen Strong, of Tioga county, was 
:he representative from 1845 to 1847. 



Ausburn Birdsall, of Broome county, 
was the representative from 1847 "to 
1849. 

Henry Bennett, of Chenango county, 
was the representative from 1849 to 
1851 Mr. Bennett was re-elected in 
1850 to serve until 185^3. 

John C. Clark has rppresented the 
county eight years in Congress. Judge 
Uri Tracy six years. Robert Monell 
four years. Henry Bennett was elected 
to serve two years after the expiration of 
his last term. The other members serv- 
ed sincjle terms. 



DESCRIPTION OF NORWICH. 

On the nineteenth day of January, 
1793, the Legislature erected from Un- 
ion and Jejicho, then in the olden coun- 
ty of Tioga, a new town by the name of 
Norwich. The enactment reads as fol- 
lows : 

" That all that part of the town of Jeri- 
cho lying east of the Chenango river, 
and that part of the town of Union lying- 
west of said river, bounded northerly by 
the north bounds of said county, easter- 
ly on the Unadilla river, southerly on the 
north bounds of a tract of land called 
Fayette, and the south bounds of town- 
ships number thirteen and fourteen, be- 
ing two of the twenty townships, and 
westerly on the west bounds of the 
twenty tov/nships, number twelve and 
thirteen, be and hereby is erected into a 
separate town by the name of Norwich." 

When this town was first created, it 
was customary for the inspectors of elec- 
tion to hold town elections in several lo- 
calities, remaining in a place but a short 
time, or just long enough to gather in 
the votes, and then setting out for an- 
other neighborhood ; thus bringing town 
meeting directly to each man's door, 
which was certainly very convenient. — 
The Legislature authorized the first 
town meeting to be convened at the 
dwelling house of Capt. John Harris, 
who then resided very near the present 
residence of Doct. Harvey Harris, in 
Norwich village. The nominator of the 
town was James Glover, an early resi- 
dent, who borrowed the name from Nor- 



94 



HISTORY OF 



wicli ill CoiiiiecticiU ; but this cogno- 
jucn ori<^-iiiate(i iruui Noi-wicli in Eng- 
land. 

The first white pioneer settlement in 
Norwich, as the town is now appointed, 
was made by Avery Power and family 
who immigrated hitlier in the year ilSS, 
before tJie Oneida Indians had disposed 
of their possessions in Chenango, to 
Gov. George Clinton, as agent for the 
State, and before they had relinquished 
possession of their castle. Upon what 
terms Mr. Power lived among the In- 
dians and cultivated his acres, is at 
present beyond any information we 
have been enabled to attain. He un- 
doubtedly paid rent of some description 
to the savages, as he stood high in their 
esteem — probably in grain and whis- 
key. He occupied wliat was known as 
the Indian Fields, which were pariially 
cleared olT by the natives, but at present 
most familiarly known as the Col. John 
Randall farm, about a mile below the 
corporate limits of Norwich villao-e. — 
One half nearly of the Power farm is at 
present owned by Judge Charles York, 
and lies north of the Randall farm. — 
The Powoi farm included one lot, and 
ran across the Chenango river, cornerin<T 
on or very near the present residence of 
Homer Johnson. 

Avery Power was in spirit one of the 
true pioneers of civilization who disrel- 
ished compact settlements and avoided 
.all contact with the inconveniences and 
.restraints of a dense population. Hence 
he best gratified his exclusive predilec- 
tions by removing his household into 
these then unsubdued wilds. The read- 
er will bear in mind that the sale of the 
southern part of the county, including 
Oxford, had already taken place ; so 
that Mr. Power was northward of the 
white man's doro.ain and westward of 
the " property line." That Mr. Power 
elected to locate himself and family in a 
country regulated by savage sanctions 
and a wild justice, where the office of 
Judge, jury and executioner often reside 
in the same fu.ictionary, argues that this 
man possessed a hardy, bold and ad- 
venturous temper. This is the charac- 



ter given him by the early settlers. 

We fix the date of Mr. Powers' remo- 
val into Chenango early in that year 
(I7SS,j by a statement mads by him to 
Mr. John Randall, senior, in the year 
J 799. In this latter year he informed 
Mr. Randall that he had then been elev- 
en years a resident of Chenango county. 
Before the State purchased the " twen- 
ty townships," Power was but an intru- 
der on to the land he occupied and had 
partially reclaimed. But when the gov- 
ernment surveyors were detailed hither 
to run out the twenty townships, Power 
paid for his farm by boarding and shel- 
tering the government employees. It is 
reported to us that he carried chain part 
of the time and performed other minor 
services for the corps while laying out 
this part of the twenty towns. His ser- 
vices paid for his land, which was set 
off to him at three shillings per acre. 
This farm would now command about 
one hundred dollars an acre — perhaps a 
trifle less. Misfortune finally assailed 
this hardy backwoodsman ! He lost 
three daughters after a brief illness, as 
we are informed by Mr. Joseph Skinner, 
now an octogenarian. They were inter- 
red upon the present Burlingame farm, 
on the east side of the river. This, we 
believe, was the first burial in this part 
of the coant3\ The grave-yard is still 
preserved. Difficulties and dangers in 
the path of this pioneer were resolutely 
met and overcome, but the loss of three 
cherished daughters in the space of as 
many weeks, unnerved for a time the 
iron soul of the adventurous Power. — 
Even time did not heal the sorrows of 
the old man for the loss of his children. 
His misforiune had already wearied him 
of the country, and he again longed for 
a new home in the woods. In the year 
1800 he sold his possessions to John 
Randall, senior, executing a deed of his 
all. For this grant Mr. Randall paid 
the liberal sum of four thousand one 
hundred dollars. The farm contained 
28G acres or the whole of lot thirty-nine, 
and thirty-six acres over. There has 
been some misapprehension as to the 
precise dale that the government sur- 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



95 



veyors located this town, but by refer- 
ence to several ancient deeds, it will be 
found to have been late in the year 17b9 
and early in 1790. The reader will re- 
member that minor surveys for patent- 
ees were made after this time. Powers' 
habitation was opened as a kind of inn 
for the entertainment of whites and sav- 
ages, but chiefly for the accommodation 
of the latter. His was the first tavern, 
as well as the first dwelling house, in 
Norwich. The site of Power's hut is 
very near an uninhabited dwelling east 
of the canal on the pres'^nt York farm. 
With the spirit of a trufi pioneer, fleeing 
before the genius of civilization and so- 
ciety, wealth and refinement, Power 
plunged anew into the then impenetra- 
ble forests of the western states, where 
he, doubtless, tarried the remainder of 
his far spent life isolated from the din of 
his own caste. Such individuals as 
Power are middle-men, forming a kind 
of link between the Indians and whites 
without really partaking of the nature of 
either. 

The first settlers after Power found 
their way into this town in the fall or 
winter of 1790, and spring of 1791. — 
They Vv^ere from Connecticut and Massa- 
chusetts promiscuously. They came 
through Albany to the Unadilla river, 
and followed blazed trees direct to the 
Power farm and tavern. They crossed 
streams at fording places and in canoes. 
A few came by way of Whitestown 
down the valley. We believe the sec- 
ond white inhabitant in this town was 
David Fairchild. He settled near what 
was once Gates' tavern, and very near 
the south line of the town, and after- 
wards removed to Preston. He purchas- 
ed the Terry farm. 

Silas Cole is supposed to have been 
the third comer. He took up what was 
known afterwards as the Elder Randall 
and Judge Steere farms. The Cole 
farm included all the corporate limits of 
Norwich village lying north of where 
the Canasewacta creek crosses South 
Main street, and east of South Main 
street up to where East street intersects 
Main street. Mr. Cole became cmbar 



rasscd and finally sold out his farm. — 
[Tc built the house owned by Judge 
Y'^ork, (nearly opposite the residence of 
Col. John Randall,) for a tavern. — 
When the first militia muster was ad- 
vertised for Norwich village, it was un- 
derstood there Avould be an unheard-of 
gathering to witness the display of the 
military. Anticipating the wants of so 
large a rally, Mr. Cole spared no ex- 
pense in fitting up his house and table 
in a costly manner. At the appointed 
time far more strangers presented them- 
selves at the muster than had been an- 
ticipated. But to the surprise of all and 
mortification of ihe inn-keepers, the 
town swarmed with hucksters, who 
spread out their edibles in great profu- 
sion along the length of the streets, 
which completely emptied every public 
house of its guests, leaving landlords to 
dispose of their provisions as they best 
could. Mr. Cole was involved by this 
m^eans some hundreds of dollars, and 
compelled to sell his magnificent farm. 
Mr. Cole removed to the State of Ohio, 
where he died. 

William Smiley came into Norwich 
nearly contemporary with Mr. Cole. — 
He located the Breed farm, and after 
partially reclaiming it, sold out to Elias 
Breed. The Smiley farm included 
the once famous sulphur spring, which 
in times past has been a fashionable 
resort for villagers. The Waters were 
supposed to possess valuable medicinal 
qualities. By attempted improvements 
of this spring its vein v\^as finally de- 
stroyed . 

Nicholas Pickett is supposed to have 
been the fifth inhabitant of Norwich. 
He located the Pendleton farm, upon the 
east side of the Chenango river, occu- 
pied a few years, sold out his purchase 
and removed from this region westward. 

The seventh settler Was Major Tho- 
mas Brooks, a Massachusetts man, com- 
promised by Shays rebellion. His prop- 
erty east was confiscated to the govern- 
ment. He came hither to repair losses. 
The Major always admitted liis partici- 
pation in the rebellion, and justified it. 
The Major had also been a soldier in 



'.Hi 



HJSTOKY OF 



ihe revolutionary war, and was at 
Bunker Hill. Major Brooks built a log 
iiouse on tiie west green in Morwicli 
village. There AVas not a hammer nor 
a nail used about the building. These 
latter had not then been introduced. 
Afterwards the Major removed to Ply- 
mouth, where he suddenly died by the 
I all of u tree, about twenty-seven years 
ago. 

Israel, Charles and Matthew Graves 
were among the early inhabitants of 
Norwich. The Graves family owned 
all that part of Norwich village lying 
west of South Main street, extending so 
iar as the Canasewacta creek where it 
crosses South Main street on the south 
and running north so far as the brick 
law office occupied at present by Geo. 
M. Smith, Esq. Israel Graves, now 
arrived at 87 years, is at present enjoy- 
ing a green old age on Fox river, in the 
State of Illinois. Charles Graves re- 
moved to the State of Ohio, where he 
died some years ago. Matthew Graves 
died in Norwich. In addition to the 
early settlers already enumerated, we 
may add the names of Josiah Brown, 
John Wait, Martin Taylor, Joseph Skin- 
ner, (now living, and over eighty,) Capt. 
John Harris, Samuel Hammond, Wil- 
liam Ransford, Hascall Ransford, Wil- 
liam Ransford, Junior, William Gibson, 
Simeon and Job Spencer, John Welch, 

Lemuel Southwick, Nesler, Col. 

William Monroe, Leonard Monroe, Lob- 
den Ja3mes and Richard Miller. Most 
of the individuals above named, are no 
longer alive. The foregoing settled 
chiefly on or near the present corpora- 
tion of Norwich. Miss Clara Brooks 
came into the town when a child with 
her father Major Brooks, and is believ- 
ed to be the oldest of the females living 
who first settled in Norwich. Miss 
Harriet Graves, aftei-wards Mrs. Hascall 
]{anstbrd, removed into this town in the 
year 179], and was married July 12, 
J702. Hers was the first marriage 
lliat took place between settlers in Nor- 
wich after their arrival. We are also 
very credibly informed that it was the 
first intermarriage betvvcen white people 



ever consummated south of Whitestown 
and north of Tioga Point. There was 
no clergyman to administer the ceremo- 
ny at the altar nearer than Tioga Point. 
Neither was there a Justice of the 
Peace, Judge, or other civic functionary 
legally qualified to perform the solem- 
nity. To overcome this obstacle it was 
finally determined by Mr. Ransford to 
repair to the residence of the clergyman 
at Tioga Point. For the want of roads 
in those days the inhabitants traveled 
up and down the valley in canoes. To 
undertake so long a journey in boats 
was at length deemed inexpedient. Fi- 
nally, Joab Enos, Esq., was sworn in 
as Justice of the Peace, and officiated at 
the first wedding in the Chenango val- 
ley. 

The first clergyman in Norwich was 
Manasseh French, a practical and unaf- 
fected preacher and man, who settled 
upon the Joseph Brown farm. 

The earliest physician was Jonathan 
Johnson, who removed here from Con- 
necticut about the year 1794. During 
the vigorous portion of his life he enjoy- 
ed a lucrative and at the same time 
most arduous practice. In the earlier 
years of his ride, the country was infest- 
ed with bears, wolves (that hunted in 
packs,) and with the ferocious panther. 
More than once the Doctor pursued his 
lonely rides over the thickly wooded 
hills, serenaded by moans, howls and 
screams, proceeding from the midnight 
orgies of these formidable occupants.— 
The Doctor surmised, and with truth 
perhaps, that the contents of his saddle- 
bags striking, agreeably or offensively, 
upon the olfactories of these lawless ten- 
ants of the wilds, was the cause of their 
frequent company while pursuing his 
night rides. The Doctor accumulated 
considerable wealth, but in an unfortu- 
nate hour was over-persuaded to adven- 
ture it, and lost in trade the hard earn- 
ings of a toilsome life. He did not long 
survive the calamity, but died about the 
year 1838, regretted by all who best 
knew his character — its strength and 
its weakness ! 

The first mule child born in Norwich 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



97 



was ]\Iarcus Cole. The second was 
Hascall Ransford, late Deputy Slieriif. 
The fir tit female child born in Norwich 
was Lucy Power. She was the first 
white native of the Chenango valley. 

We have traced the first proprietors oi'' 
the land in Norwich village situated on 
JSouth Main street and running back 
across the streams in the rear on either 
side. Col. Monroe took up all that part 
of the villlage of Norwich on the west 
of Main street extending from George 
L. Kider's north line up so far as the 
rise of ground in the upper part of the 
village. Then came the Dickinson farm, 
which extended to the top of the hill on 
the west side of North Main street. — 
Mr. Dickinson came to this village at a 
later period. On the east side of Main 
street Judge Steere purchased from 
Silas Cole, and his land extended back 
to the river, or nearly as far. and was 
bounded on the north by Capt. .John 
Harris' farm, which ran up the hill on 
the east side oi Kofth Main street. — 
North of Capt. Harris, on ihe same side 
of North Main stree', lay the farm of 
Samuel Hammond. North of ISamiiel 
Hammond lay the Hansford farm ex- 
tending on both sides of North Main 
street nearly to the cross road leading to 
Wood's Corners. It is not important to 
trace the precise boundary of each of 
these farms. They were chiefly taken 
from government in 210 acre lots or 
parcels. 

The Col. Monroe farm (now best 
known as the Guera-sey property,) Avas 
purchased by Elisha Smith, who erect- 
ed upon the west bank of the Ganase- 
wacta creek adjoining tlie saw mill of 
William Guernsey and nearly west of 
the stone mill of the latter, the first 
flouring mill that was coistructed with- 
in the present limits of Chenango coun- 
ty. Prior to the erection of this mill the 
inhabitants either transported part of 
their grain to Tioga Point, at great ex- 
pense and endless toil, or they construct- 
ed mortars by holiov/ing out at one end 
a log from three to four feet in length 
and constructing a sweep above the 
mortar with a pestle attached. The 



process of pulverizing the grain usually 
took place at daylight and made no lit- 
tle noise in the settlement while the 
crushing or pounding process was going 
on. This incident is well worthy of 
record, inasmuch as it informs the grow- 
ing generation how great is the labor of 
building up a new country ! But toil 
kept our forefathers temperate and heal- 
thy. What they lost in luxuries they 
gained in the enjoyment of good consti- 
tutions. At one time the Chenango riv- 
er was nearly as much navigated as the 
Chenango canal. Upon one occasion 
about five hundred Indians fantastically 
robed and painted, made their appear- 
ance wholly unexpected at the residence 
of Capt. John Harris. They were pro- 
ceeding in bark canoes to attend a 
grand council of the several nations to 
be convened at Tioga Point. Their un- 
expected advent created surprise and 
alarm among the settlers before they 
made known the object of their sudden 
visit. 

When the settlers arrived in Norwich 
Mr. Cutting owned the town, and was 
unwilling to sell to settlers in fee sim- 
ple, but desired to tenant his land after 
the manner of the Van Rensselaers. — 
This the immigrants refused to do, and 
Mr. Cutting was obstinate in the matter. 
At length there was a proposition made 
to the settlers to remove to VVhitestown, 
which was only prevented by the pur- 
chase of the town from Mr. Cutting by 
Melancthon Smith and John Stites, — 
Mr. Smith came on and reconciled dif- 
ferences by giving contracts for deeds 
(absolute,) of the soil. We believe a 
serious collision occurred between Col. 
Monroe and Mr. Cutting relative to the 
purchase of a farm, which resulted in 
the purchase by the Colonel over the 
Plymouth line. At page twenty-eight 
it is stated that Mr. Cutting bought Nor- 
wich in the absence of Capt. Harris. — 
We are advised by Doct. Harvey Harris, 
that his father (the Capt.,) was present, 
but the land was sold above what he 
was authorized to bid. The Doctor al- 
so assures us that Mr. Smith bought out 
Mr. Cutting owing to the difficulties 
Cutting was getting into with the set- 
13 



98 



HISTORY OF 



tiers. That this was before the death 
of Cutting some time. 

Perhaps no citizen was so closelv 
identified in his life-time with the early 
growth and prosperity of the village of 
Norwich as Peter B. Guernsey. Himself 
and his heirs after him have been c .:- 
tensive land owners in the heart of the 
village. Mr. Guernsey was a lawyer 
by profession, but early relinquished this 
calling for active business pursuits. — 
The characteristics of Mr. Guernsey's 
mind were strong natural sense and an 
untiring perse \-erance under difficulties 
that never intermitted. He was one of 
the many early settlers who literally 
died in harness. 

We will remark that Norwich village 
was incorporated as early as 18 IG. — 
Since that time several amendments 
have been made to the village charter. 
In the spring of 1.851 the village trus- 
tees named all the streets, which num- 
bered twenty-two. There is upon the 
village corporation two flouTing mills, a 
steam saw-mill, two tanneries, an iron 
foundry, an extensive hammer and edge 
tool manufactory, employing in the 
neighborhood of thirty operatives. Al- 
so several extensive carriage manufacto- 
ries, besides YiU oil mill, morocco factory, 
sash and window blind factory, cabinet 
shops, cooper shops, etc. etc. etc. 

The first town ro.eeting was convened 
at the house of Capt. John Harris. Af- 
terwards town meeting was held at the 
house of Hascall Kansford, senior, situ- 
ated about a mile above the village of 
Norwich. Mr. Ransford for many yeais 
kept tavern, and his house was exten- 
sively patronized. We believe in those 
days the mail was carried weekly on 
foot north. We are informed by Mr. 
Truman Enos that the chief of the engi- 
neer corps, who ran out the twenty 
townships including Norwich, was Col. 
Josiah Throop, of Johnstown, Fulton 
county, in this State. 

CHENANGO CANAL. 

The antiquity of canals is vcw great ; 
running back so far as six hundred years 
before the time of the Christian era. — 



The " Red Sea and Nile Canal," in- 
tersecting the Isthmus of Suez, was be- 
gun by Necho, son of Psammeticus. — 
The work was continued by Darius 
Uystaspes, but was afterwards'abandon- 
ed from fear of iimndating a great pan 
L'f Egypt; which was thought to be low- 
er than the Red Sea. The work was, 
however, resumed and completed near a 
century afterwards— about five hundred 
and twenty-one years before Christ, by 
Ptolemy 11. To prevent an overflow 
from the sea upon Egypt, barriers or 
banks were constructed running across 
the canal, and boats were taken across 



these barriers 



lined planes. This 



is one. account of the passage by these 
barriers. Another is that all the boats 
shifted cargoes at the barriers, no craft 
passing over thein. That on the trans- 
portation of freight over the barriers, it 
was put on different vessels and thus for- 
warded to its destination. According to 
Strabo, the canal was one hundred cu- 
bits wide, and of sufHcient depth for 
large vessels. Its entire length consum- 
ed four days in passing over it. As 
this canal Avas made by embanking ra- 
ther than by excavating, the width was 
not a matter of very great consideration ; 
as the cost in constructing a spacious 
channel would not be materially larger 
than the cost of a narrow one. 

The Chinese have probably the most 
extensive inland canal navigation of any 
nation in the world. Some put down 
the canals of China as exceeding in 
number and length all others in any part 
of the habitable globe. The country 
through Avhich these canals pass is un- 
dulating in many parts, causing the ca- 
nals to be built unon different levels. — 
To pass boats from one level to another 
the Chinese do not employ the ordinary 
lock in use on the canals in this coun- 
try; but they draw them out of the wa- 
ter by means of rollers or inclined planes, 
employing for this purpose not machines, 
bui men. The ascent and descent at" 
some of these planes is fifteen feet. — 
The Chinese also employ their canals 
for irrigating the soil and supplying 
towns with water. The Imperial canal 
of China is fnid to be five hundred 



I 




( 



\ 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



99 



ies in length and floats one thousand 
■is of one hundred tons burthen each. 
js called the *' Imperial Canal" be- 
se none but the Emperor's boats 
'. igate it. 
mials of Italy. — In ancient Italy, be- 
;3 the canal of the Pontine Marshes, 
• iiended as a drain and used also for 
vigation, the. region about the Po was 
■rsected by the Fossa Augusti, Fossa 
1 iiistina and numerous other canals. — 
u'as in Italy that the great irnprove- 
)it in modern canals over the ancient 
; over those of China was first intro- 
'tA in the year 1481, by the construc- 
i of locks and sluices to pass boats from 
■ level to another. Locks on car 
now used, were invented by ; 
'hers, engineers of Viterbo. 
j'heir names have not been bar- 
vn. This improvement in the an 
'ualing was soon after adopted in r 
lianese Territor}', under the ] .-t. 
e of the great painter and c ' 
lijineer, Leonardo Da Vinci. 
Jan government early paid great ii\' 
tion to inland navigation, enacted m.- 

•-"Q-ulations ccncernir- ■'. i- '-i- 

';ing numerous tr- 
action of locks aij . 

. H'i managing canals. 

L'eter the Ures.t began c?na!t 
■ '. During the wanderings of this 
:iice into foreign countries, nothing 
' ful or that might tend to civilize the 
-sian Empire, escapsd the practical 
li vigilant observation of Peter. At 
one time lie worked as a shipwright iu 
disguise at the dock yard in Saardam. 
It Avas in Holland, where he first observ- 
ed the utility of canals ; on his return 
'i.;me he commenced three. He compiet- 
'I but one of these channels ; that con- 
;i<cting the Caspian and Baltic Seas. 

The canals of Holland traverse that 
flit, marshy country, in every direction, 
,-■ rving for navigation in summer and 
loads of ice in winter. These canals 
: n? constructed generality several feet 
'lii'-her than the surrounding plains over 
which they pass. The flat lands are 
drained by pumping th« water up into 
he canals ; for which purpose numprons 



wind-mills are dispersed about the coun- 
try and kept in active operation. 

Spain, with the control for ages of 
the most profitable gold, silver and 
quicksilver mines int he world, is in ca- 
nals, as in every other species of enter- 
prise, behind all other civilized nations, 
m 18i29 she had but the canal of Arra- 
gon, and this was only partially com- 
pleted. 

The canal navigation in France in 
1829 was nine hundred miles, or about 
one-third part of that of Great Britain. — 
In 160f5, Henry IV. began and comple- 
ted thirty-seven years afterwards the ca- 
; ral of Briare, designed to connect the 
Loire and Seine, it is sometimes 
the Loire and Seine canal, from 
-^nce. This canal cost nearly 
';e Erie canal in this State. 
.sh. notwithstanding they 
■' af'er the French in canal 
.■ : ve at present more ca- 
• country, except pev- 
'ates. 

■h. — The history of 
^vigation does not ex 
I j.,M i ..UK, Excavations for ca- 
ve not made much if any before 
r 1816. The Erie canal was 
work of importance completed, 
the completion of this canal the 
I ...o.iav.'k river was cleared out and ren- 
I dered partially navigable for light boats. 
j The Erie canal was completed under 
the auspices of De Witt Clinton. It 
was carried on to completion by his un- 
tiring efforts, at the hazard of his popu- 
larity. He is then justly considered, 
and will be in all time, as the author of 
the Erie canal. But other claimants 
there are, and some have written pamph- 
lets to prove themselves the originators 
of the idea of the practicability of con- 
necting the Hudson River with Lake 
Erie, and thereby giving the western 
states water communication with New 
York City and the Atlantic Ocean. — 
Among these claimants may be named 
Governeur Morris, who died in 1816, 
and Jesse Hawley, v/ho died about 
1813, at Lockport. In one of his publi- 
c It ions Mr. Hawley remarked : " Con- 



100 



HISTORY OF 



sidering myself as being the projector of 
the overkiud route of the Erie cunul, &cc. 
&;c." 

We now conic to speak of the Clic- 
nango canal, so far back as we are ena- 
bled to go, from, what information we 
at present are posses;<cd of. Soon after, 
the works on the Krie canal were under-! 
taken, the citizens of the Chenango val- 
ley suggested expedients for forming a 
canal junction with the new canal at! 
some point north. We believe, howev-j 
er, that the present canal was not tho't 
of so far down as the year 1S23. In 
November of that year the Oxford Ga- 
zette held forth this language in rela- 
tion to connecting the valley with the 
Erie canal. The Gazette said : 

" FeviT counties can approach the Erie 
canal with so much ease and facility asj 
Chenango, that are situated so far from' 
it. We may therefore justly consider 
Chenango as destined, at some futnrej 
period, to become an important branch 
of that vast inland navigation which se-, 
cures to New York a proud pre-emi- 
nence among the States of the Union, 
The Chenango river can be made boat- 
able to its Source, and by a short canal, 
the e.xpense of which would be compara-j 
tively trifling, may be united willi the; 
waters of the Oneidji creek, wJiich leads! 
directly into the Erie canal. Tins has: 
been pronounced by competent judges, 
practicable and safe ; and at no distant 
day will engage the attention of our en- 
terprising citizens." 

Judge Elisha Smith, in his life-time, 
was an early and able advocate for tlie 
canal. We understand the judge's plan 
was to navigate the Cnenango river inj 
part. It was about the year 1824 thati 
public opinion began to shape itself in, 
favor of the canal, as now constructed. 
It was in this year a petition of citizens 
was forwarded to John F. ilubliard, a, 
member of the Assembly from Chenan- 
go. Mr. Hubbard presented the appeal 
to the Legislature ; a report in lavor ofj 
the canal was made, but not acted on. 
The first act for the construction of the 
canal was passed in the year 18:29.— 
Tliia act required the Cauai Commis-1 



sioners to make a survey of the route 
and to commence the work, if upon ex- 
amination of the route it was certain 
there was an adequate supply of water ; 
also that the cost of construction would 
not exceed one million of dollars. Fur- 
tlier that llie Avork when completed 
wouhl jnoduce to the State in connec- 
tion with the increased tolls on the Erie 
canal, for the first ten years alter its 
construction an amount of tolls equal to 
the interest upon its cost, together with 
repairs and expense of attendance. The 
Cnnal Commissioners were directed by 
this act in the event of a negative con- 
clusion upon any of the three proposi- 
tions, to report to the next Legislature 
their surveys and esii mates. 

Alter examinations the Commission- 
ers were convinced that the canal could 
not be constructed on the route proposed 
within the purview of the act of 1829. 
They accordingly made an elaborate re- 
port in 1830 to the Legislature. This 
report is an able document and contains 
much usclul information. But previous 
to the law of 1829, the citizens of the 
Chenansj^o vallev, at their private ex- 
pense, in the year 182(3, employed an 

engineer by the nnme of Jones, 

then resident at Utica, to run out a route 
for a canal through this valley to con- 
nect with the Erie canal, and to make 
estimates of the cost of its construction. 
While discharging the duties of his 
trust, Mr. Jones (who was a brolher of 
Anson Jones, the last Presidfut of Tex- 
as,) was taken suddenly ill at Norwich 
village, and died there before he had 
completed his survey. 

The Commissioners, under the law of 
1S2;>, reported that from Utica to the 
summit level of the canal in Madison 
county, a distance of twenty-three miles, 
there "would be required seventy-eight 
locks and as manv levels, forming in 
the aggregate an elevation of 702 feet. 
The depth of cutting on the summit lev- 
el, which extends three miles, was some- 
thing over twenty feet. From the south- 
ern termination of this level the canal 
thev reported, enters the valley of the 
Chenango river and followa the general 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



101 



course of that stream to Binghamton, a 
distance of sixty-nine nniles. From the 
southern extremity of the summit level 
to the last mentioned place there is i: 
fall of 307 fee', requiring thirty-six lift 
lock-. The whole length of the canal is 
ninety-five miles ; the rise and fall 1,009 
feet, and the entire number of lift locks 
one hundred and fourteen. The Com- 
missioners estimated the actual cost ofl 
constructing the canal, as it is now built, 
exclusive of damages to individuals, at 
the sum of nine hundred and ninety-two i 
thousand three hundred and seven dol- 
lars. 

The remarks of the Commissioners >^o 
well illustrate the nature of the country 
through v/hich the canal passes, that 
we will cite a few^ of them. They say : ' 
•' In the southern part of the valley of 
Chena:igo, the hills in several places 
terminate on the edge of the river with 
such precipitous banks as to render it 
necessary to constroct the canal in the 
bed of the stream for a considerable ex- 
tent, and in other cases the excavation 
of bluOs and rocky points will be ima- 
voidable. On the northerly part of the 
route, the deep cutting on the summit, 
and the rock vv^hich must be encountered 
in Cassity Hollow and at Hart's Mill on 
the Oriskany, constitute the principal 
difficulties which are visible in the exca- 
vation. Most of the remainder of the 
line is located on the alluvial ground 
bordering the streams, composed of light 
loam, sand and gravel, which is easy to 
excavate." 

"Canals on such ground, however, 
although cheaply excavated, do not al- 
ways prove the least expen^five. They 
require (where the soil is most porous,) 
a lining with more impervious earth, in 
order to retain water for the purposes of 
navigation, and to prevent the flooding 
of adjacent lands. Embankments form- 
ed of light and loose materials, must be 
made much broader and larger, and re- 
quire more protection from the abrasion 
of water, and the force of torrents, than 
if formed of compact earth." 

'' The southern part of the Oriskany 
valley and the whole valley of the Che- 



nango are bounded by lofty hills ; at 
the foot of these hills, and in many 
places on the very edge of their acclivi- 
ties, the canal has been unavoidably lo- 
cated. In these situations it will be ex- 
posevl to the torrents which collect on 
the long upland slopes, and whioh gath- 
ering force in their descent will sweep 
away embankments or other opposing 
works, unless their destructive etiiscts 
are avoided by the construction of many 
spacious culverts and waste weirs. We 
noticed the wide and dry beds of seve- 
ral of the streams, composed of masses 
of stones and gravel brought from the 
hills. The shifting of their courses and 
their deposits, from time to time, has 
covered and constituted the flat lands in 
many near their mouths to a very great 
extent. Whenever a canal is located on 
ground so entirely porous as thi^, it must 
be formed with a thick lining on the 
bottom and sides with imp'^rvious earth." 

The Commissioners, in this report, 
also trace a close resemblance in the 
nature of the soil and of the hills, be- 
tween the Mohawk and Chenango val- 
leys. They then remark : "In the 
Mohawk valley we have expended in 
culverts, waste weirs, lining, puddling 
and back draining, ten times as much as 
the engineer estimated to be necessary 
in the same kind of work on the Che- 
nango canal." The Commissioners re- 
ported to the Legislature, that the Che- 
nango c^nal would not pay for its con- 
struction unless it performed as large a 
carrying business as the Erie canal for 
the same distance ; which was utterly 
impossible from the relative nature of 
the two lines of canal. 

TheCommissionersnext made an elab- 
orate calculation of the exports and im- 
ports of the country through which the 
contemplated canal was to pass. They 
estimated the exports of agricultural pro- 
ducts at 17,51'J tons, and the imports at 
4,404 tons only. But they exclude in 
this estimate the exports and imports of 
lumber, salt, lime, gypsum and ashes. — 
The Commissioners estimated the num- 
ber of the population to be benefitted by 
the canal and who would use it, at 
85,304. 



102 



HISTORY OF 



The Canal Commissioners concluded 
iheir report untavorably ic» the coustruc- 
tiua oi' the Chenani;o cunal. We give 
the conchiMou of the report in their own 
hinguage : 

"In regard to severnl questions suh- 
inittcd to our con^^ideralioa by the law 
of 18.29, and wlilch must be determined 
aftlruiatively, before we can proceed to 
the construciion of the Chenango canal, 
we are of opinion — 

"First, on the question of water — 
that an adequate supply of water may 



almost alone in the Senate for years 
dealt out strong, vigorous and telling 
arguments in favor of the immediate 
conipleticin of the Chennugo canal. — 
Mr.. Hubbard himself, rt'iired from the 
exciting scenes of public life, claims not 
this merit. But the people, whom for so 
many long and trying years he faithfully 
served, we think will never be guilty of 
so great ingratitude as to sufl,er his mer- 
itorious ■services in the Senate to sink 
into oblivion.. Mr. Hubbard was placed 
in situations most trvin^- to the feelings 



be proonced by a resort to reservoirs for |j of the politician! He was forced by 



the summit level without taking any ot j 
the waters of either Oriskany or Sa quoit 
creek." 

*' Secondly, in regard to its cost — 
that it will exceed one million of dol- 
lars." (Its construction was limited to 
this sum.) 

" Thirdly and lastly ; in regard to its 
revenue, that it will not produce an 
amount of tolls, in connection with the 
increased tolls on the Erie canal, that 
will be equal to" the interest of its cost 
and the expense of its repairs and super- 
intendence, or of either of them." 

Signed, 

Steptien Van Rensselaer, 
Samuel YoiiNa, 
Henry Sf.ymofr, 
William C. P- ^'. 

January 21st, 1S30. 

As the Commissioners ropmiea iin^-ir 
inability to construct the canal accord- 
ing to the terms of the act of 1829, the 
projeiU was on the coming in of this re- 
port indefinitely postponed. Our next 
task will be to explain how this dead 
canal was resuscitated, and by whose 
agency, chielly, it was finally carried 
through to completion. 

We shall, at the hazard of contradic- 
tion, give whatever of praise or blame 
attaches to the canal the credit of the 
law of l8.-)3 , authoring the construction 
of the canal to John F. Hubbard, then 
a Senator from the sixth district. Oth- 
ers lent willing and efficient aid to the 
undertaking, and to the enactment of 



tlie exigency of the times to diil'er with 
his most cherished party friends. He 
hesitated not to perform this moral but 
painful duty. In the year 1S3I, one 
year after the coming in of the Canal 
Conuaissioners estimates and reports 
adverse to the canal, he as one of the 
committee on canals, in relation to the 
Chenango canal, reported adverse to the 
views of IMessrs. Bouck and Youtig, and 
their associates. He employed statis- 
tics to prove their report erroneous in 
its conclusions as well as the facts upon 
which it was predicated We will give 
brief extracts from the report of Mr. 
Hubbard. He said : 

"The people of New York, guided 
by a wise and liberal ambition to pro- 
mote the general interest, were the first 
ro commence an ample expenditure ibv 
j internal improvements. The Erie and 
I Champlain canals, those great and splen- 
j did works which have carried prosperity 
and wealth to the remotest sections of 
I the State, are the rich fruit of their be- 
nign and magnanimous policy. Justly 
I estimating the wealth of the citizen as 
i the wealth of the State, the Legislature 
! determined by constructing canals and 
I thus atibrding an easy and cheap com- 
I munication between the interior and our 
I commercial cities to excite the enter- 
! prise and industry of our iarmers and 
increase our population by holding out a 
rich inducemeat to settlement and culti- 
vation of our vacant lands. The result 
has verified their most sarguine antici- 
pations. The canals have induced a 
law. But It was Mr. Hubbard whoj rapidity of settlement and a consequent 



I 







i 



$ 



CHENANGO COUNTY. 



103 



increase of population and wealth un- 
heard of in the previous history of the 
country." He continued : 

" Before entering upon the discussion 
of the propriety of constructing the Che- 
nango canal, it is proper to give a short 
account of its progress. In 3S24 the 
inhabitants of the Chenango valley pe- 
titioned the Legislature for a survey. — 
The canal committee of that year re- 
ported favorably, but it was not acted 
on, as the session was dravvdng to a 
close. In 1825 a law of the State au- 
thorized a sur vey ; and in 1826 a peti- 
tion was presented for its construction, 
and the canal committee of the Assem- 
bly made a favorable report ; but the 
House thinking that the survey had not 
teen sufficiently minute and accurate, 
rejected the bill. During the summer 
of 1826 the inhabitants procured anoth- 
er survey of the summit level, and at 
the session of 1827 a bill passed the As- 
sembly, but was rejected in the Senate. 
During the summer of 1827 another 
survey of the summit and the whole line 
was procured by the citizens at a great 
expense. Mr. Roberts, an able engi- 
neer, was employed ; and he came to 
the conclusion that there was a suffi- 
cient supply of water for the summit 
level ; and that the canal could be con- 
structed for less than one million of dol- 
lars. This opinion was concurred in 
by Mr. Hutchinson, who carefully ex- 
amined the estimates, and by Tvlr. 
Wright, who personally reviewed the 
whole line." 

" In 182S a bill for its construction 
;i'_ain passed the Assembly, and was a 
• cond time rejected in the Senate. — 
"Che application was renewed in 1829, 
l)at the objection was raised, that the 
.■^tate could not safely proceed under a 
survey which was not authorized by 
ihe Legislatuve ; and a bill v\'-as passed 
authorizing its construction, if it could 
be made for a million of dollars, if there 
was a sufficiency of water, if it would 
yield when constructed a revenue for 
ten years including the increase of tolls 
on the Erie canal equal to the cost of 
repairs and the interest of the money to 
be borrowed." 



Mr. Hubbard reviews the report and 
conclusions of the Canal Commissioners 
very temperately, and adds : 

" The Canal Commissioners do not 
deny that there is a sufficiency of water, 
but express an opinion that the work 
will cost more than a million of dollars ; 
but how i^uch more they do not inform 
us, 'nor have tjiey given us any esti- 
mates. Their opinion was expressed 
from a slight examination of only five 
days ; and it stands opposed not only 
by the result of the laborious examina- 
tions of Mr. Bates, but by the opinions 
of Messrs. Wright and Eoberts, whose 
ability and experience will not be ques- 
tioned." 

" It is," said Mr. Hubbard, " con- 
tended by the citizens residing upon 
the route that the country is fertile and 
capable, with the advantages of a cheap 
transportation to market, of furnishing 
an amount of tonnage equal to that of 
any other section of the State, contain- 
ing the same population. This position 
is strengthened by the fact that the cen- 
sus of 1825, so far as it gave the produc- 
tion of the several counties, showed that 
the region to be benefitted by the Che- 
nango canal v/as not inferior to the most 
fertile sections. Population still in- 
creases, and villages are constantly 
springing up, giving evidence both of 
the enterprise of the people and the 
productiveness of the soil," etc. 

The Commissioners insisted that the 
most profitable tonnage carried on the 
Erie canal was wheat and flour ; that 
this grain was not grown in the Che- 
nango valley for exportation in any con- 
siderable quantities. Mr. Hubbard re- 
plied to this that, not conceding the as- 
sertion of the Commissioners to be 
wholly true ; yet, if true as to wheat 
raising, still it determined nothing 
against the construction of or tonnage 
on the canal. " For labor which is di- 
verted into growinp; one description of 
products in one section, may be applied 
in furnishing a diiferent description in 
another. Population, therefore, may a''- 
ford a safer criterion by which to judge 
of the amount of revenue to be derived 
from a canal." 



104 



HISTORY OF 



The report of Mr. Hubbard con- 
cludes thus: " It is one of ihe duties 
of government to encourage industry 
and enterprise, call fortii tiie resources 
and promote the permanent intere^rs of 
the iState, by facihiating commercial 
intercourfc, when it can be tlooc with- 
out levying oppressive and b^udensome 
taxes." 

Whether the construction of the 
Chenango canal <Mu facilitate commer- 
cial intercourse, whether it did not riv 
an impetus to population, manufac- 
tures, the arts and to agriculture, thro'- 
out the valley of the Chenango ! This 
inierrogatory we leave for the farmer, 
the mechanic and the merchant to an- 
swer. Before a response be given let 
all remember what was the condition 
of the home market before and after 
the completion of the canal ; what was 
the price of land and farming stock ; 
what the rewards of labor; what the 
price of merchandize ! 

On the 23d of x^ebruary, J 833, an 
act passed the Legislature to make a 
canal from Utica to Binghamton. nine- 
ty-seven miles in length. No condi- 
tions were imposed by this act. The 
work was commenced in 1833 and 
completed in 1837, at a cost of one 
million seven hundred and thirty-seven 
thousand seven hundred and three dol- 
lars. There are one hundred and six- 
teen lift locks, two of which only are 
built of stone. The other one hun- 
dred and fourteen are built of wood 
and stone, calhul composite. The ca- 
nal had, on its completion, seven reser- 
voirs consisting of natural ponds, hav- 
ing their original capacity increased by 
embankments and dams furnished with 
flumes and gates to regulate the dis- 
char2:e of water. 

When the bill of 1833 became a 
law there were great rejoicings thro'- 
out this valley. In Norwich a grand 
celebration and canal festival was got 
up by the citizens at the county seat. 
As some of the readers of the history 
thir.k the account of the Court House 



celebration was considerably^inflated or 
overcharged, we lorbear giving a sepa- 
rate description of what occurred at 
the canal celebration ; but shall rather 
point our friends back to the account 
of that festival, and whatever they find 
of extravagance in what was there said, 
tjiey may apply to the canal holyday. 
We think our account of the Court 
House ceremonies are broad enough to 
cover both occasions. 

It is true the cost of the canal al- 
most doubled the original estimates ; 
but what of that ? In the end it has 
enriched all southern New York and 
\\ given an impetus to enterprise in the 
jj Chenango valley, v.^hich would never 
have been attain sd without it. The 
|! canaling undertakings in the State of 
J! New York, begun by Clinton, were 
j the forerunners of steamloats and rail- 
|i roads on this continent. 
j Some writer has said : " The gen- 
Ij eral utility or public expediency of 
I works of internal improvement are not 
j} to be determined wholly by the amount 
I of annual tolls they will probably 
{ yield; but it is necessary to look at the 
jj indirect advantages, such as the in- 
I creased, value of land along the bor- 
ij ders of the works, the increased profits 
i of other works connected with or af- 
I fected by the ones proposed." J-adg- 
|i ing tl)e Chenango canal by this standaid 
M we can safely atlirm the aggregate of 
ij wealth along its borders has been infi- 
l' nitely increased by its construction. — 
Mr. E. B. ]\lcCall. surveyor and engi- 
neer, resident at Oxford, was an early 
and active participant in the construc- 
j tion of the Chenango canal. We are 
most credibly informed he once made 
j a survey of the whole line of the pres- 
I ent canal, and that the levels run out 
! by him were found to be mathematic- 
aily correct, when the work was com- 
pleted. 

The Chenango canal was built after 
the model of the Erie canal ; its main 
trunk is forty feet wide at the water 



and twenty-eight feet at the bot- 



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sjjBd snouBA ui dn fuBjds uoiiijaduios 
luBji5iA B paapuj 'jaroissiuiuiOQ 9q) 



iO AHOiSIH 



»ai 



H 



\u sLiVJi.v ^m ui pje^odcio 'aSBiir.v ai[] Jo 
ooaTJiBdduu pooS aq] loj A[8)buiiuojliu 
'ai^M suazup sqi Jo auios ^ng; -anucJAG 
aqj ssoioxi' gumno oj asaaApB sbav puB 
'siqj p^pa^Sai jauoissiuiiuoQ jbucq aqj, 
•qjiiuai ajijua sji A[j«au aoj paSuBjatJ A[ 
-[ujaisBj 'saoj) |EiuamBu.io Aq apis jaqjio 
no papBqs n SBAV Ajasuap os : ?saJOj B 
,ojq} jno anuoAt! utj Suquasajdai ApBaj[B 
•)aaj5S itijijriBaq siqj jo Aiuuiojiun aqi 
QAJasaad o} sbav siq j, 'spoa Ajxis oj Aj 

-Jtqj UJOJJ SlUAJBA It lUOJJ saDUBJSip IB il 

paDB{d puB ']SBa aqi uo laaajs iubi\[ qiiA\ 
pilBjed AjJBau ^BUBO aqi paiB0O[ Aaqi 
'q-jtAMOf^i qSnojqi pas-s^d siaauiSua oq> 
uaq_^\ -JtJO^ Ava^ ujaqinos ut smdia 
edBospuB[ pjuiSi^ap puB joaj-isd ;soui 
eqi JO auo juasaad 'asaaABJi jo uuod 
ao uouounfuoo aiaqi ujojj 'sjaaais asaqx 
— -qiSuaj aaiBs aqj AiaBau st '31 jo uBd 
jajnao aqj jnoqB 'laaJis uibui 8t^vssojob 
sajSuB iqSu IB Suiuuni 'laaajs isaA\ puB 
5SBa aqjL 'juaixa ui paiqj b puB ajiui 
auo ^noqB si a2B|iiA aqi ui laajjs uibcu 
®HJj ■pJBA\q'',nos j)0 sassed puB saaj 
•ua jaAU oSuBuaqQ aqj tpiqAV qSnojqi 
sanuaAB a\ojjbu oavj Suqdaoxa 's|[iq 
iq apis ijaAa uo papuncuas 'utsBq b ui 
3|inq sr aSB[[tA siqx -qoiAuo^ jo a^BJ 
-|tA aqj UI aoBjd J^ooj '[bubo aqi jo aui[ 
oip o\ aAnB[aj 'luama^ioxa isoui aqx 
— 'suonduosqns Jtaqi Jo }uouiA*Bd uiojj 
pasnoxa spaBAvjayB ajaAv puoq siqj 01 
sjauSis aqi iBqj pasiApBOiB a/^\ -dSui 
-jiA jBqi qSiiojqi t^jom aqi Suponaisuoo 
JO jsoD |Buoi}|ppB aqj XB.ijap 01 paquos 
-qns aaaAv sAauoui aSBjiiA aujnqaaqg 
JV •a{qissod sb saSBjjiA aqi jo Jid}Udo 
oq) qSnojqj .{{jBau sb ssBd p[noqs jbu 
-BO aqi sno.nsap aaaAv suaziiio aqi suavoi 
XajjBA aqi jo auuos uj -sqiuoiu A\aj 
V joj puoq siqi jo uotioaijoo aqi puad 
-sns 01 ajnjB|siSa'-] aqi pauoriuad '^gsi 
ui '|rouno3 UOUIIU03 aqx 's^Bjiop puBS 
-noqi a'uoj jo luns aqi ABd 01 pauoiiipuoo 
8BA\ puoq aqx 'Mp luqi 01 |bubo aqi 
^Uipniisuoo JO asuadxa BJixa aqi^ABjj 
*8p d|aq 01 puoq b pauSis A|iBUy B^nfl 
Jo siuBifqBqui aqx 'siuiod iBpioiuBd 
jBJaAas IB aiBuiuijai 11 aABij 01 snoJisap 
/laA ajaA\ 'BOjifl ui Suipisai a&oqi A|[bi:o 
•sdsa '[BUBO aug aqi jo aur^ aqj 5uo|b 



i! suazufo aqx 'P<^^;y -"^q p|noq^ >;iiuta!.iJt 
I uaaqijou aqi aiaqAv 01 sb uoiiajosip a 

pBq (BUBO aqi jo sjauoissiixiuio;^ aqx 

•sn 01 juaoo lou op souibu 

asoqA\ s.iaqio aaoAv ajgqx 'Autnoo uo:5 

-ipBJ^ JO 'piBUABj^ SasOI\[ pUB 5 AlUtlOO 

BpiauQ 'a|iiAaaiB^\ jo 'laAvox uaqnajj 
f Aiunoo sup JO AoBJx uqof sba\ aiaqi 
asaqi sapisag "sjoiBu.tg aiBij^' sjBa.f 
Aubui joj puB 'Aiunoo BpiauQ jo qioq 

'jai?0J -V -UUajl puB p.lBUABJ^ -{^ UIBl{ 

"IfAV p9^^" 9R ABui luauiujo-id isoui aqj 
Suouiv "asridjaiua aqi ui saoinlpBoa Au 
-Biu pBq pjBqqnfj -ij^ inq f [bubo oSubu 
-aqQ aqi jo puau| luaroiya puB A'pBa oqi 
SB pjBqqnji -j; uqO||- pauiBU 9ABq a^\ 

•sotioa[ 
• Bip jBSa] ui i(jBUJ0UB UB siqi 3jutqi a\\^ 
■aassBdsaii b si 'ii qiiAv paioauuoo ssajun 
'[BUBO aqi JO qiBd Suiavoi aqi SuipBua 
-uiojd uosaad AjaAa 'anji aq uoiijsodojd 
stqi jj -SuiiBUBO JO ssauisnq aqi qiiAv 
pajoauuoD aba\ aiuos ui sba\ aq ssa[ 
-un 'aSpijq aqj luojj jjo turq ind oi aojoj 
aiisinLa.1 aqi asn oi iqSii b peq aq puB 
'oiPis; aqi Aq i[iriq 'aSpiiq aiBAud siq 
uo Jsuuaiua Aq '[Bubo aqi jo apis qoBa uo 
■ P'uq aqi JO jauA\o aqi isu(b5b inq 'aiBig • 
aqi isuibSb lou 'SuissudsaJi sba\ a5puq 
aqi uodn SuioS uosjsd aiji iBqi papioap 
IJnoo aqx "[bubo aqi jo opis qoBa uo 
sj|UBq aqi jo laaj uoahs pauMO osib puB 
'Hjnq SBA\ [BUBO aqi qo|qA\ uo puB{ aqi 
pauA\o 'jaAaAvoq 'ajBig oqi '. uoiiBpoui 
-iuoooB siq aoj paionaisuoo sbm aSpuq 
aqi puB '[BUBO aqi jo apis qoBa uo puB( 
aqi JO lauAvo sba\ iub[ibssb aqx *[«'X 
-BO aqi SSO.TDB Suipuaixa aSpijq b uo paj 
-inooo oSuBuaq3 ui AJOiiBq puB i[nBSSB 
uB aouEisui auo uj -[bubo aqi jo s>|uBq 
aqi Suo[B sjap[oq-puB[ jo siqSia aqi jo 
loafqns aqi uo paioom uaaq aABq suoti 
•sanl) [BSa[ snouno sauiiiauiog 'asodand 
aqi .loj aoiyo s,}j.ia[o Ajunoo qoBa ut ida?{ 
spaap JO 3|Ooq b ui papaoo^J aaaM qorijAv 
siuoiUrtiBi? pa[ij sMosnuddB aqi 'piBcf 
aaaiw saSsiuBp aqi uaqAV puB 'apBui sba\ 
'saiiunoo aqi qSnoaT[i sassBd ii sb '[Bubo 
aqi JO a[ijoad y -aiduits oaj ut it ua\o 
puB 'sassBd [BUBO o§uBuaq3 aqi qoiqA\ 
qSnojqi puB[ aqi iqSnoq ajBig aqx 

•jaiB.w JO qjdap laaj .riioj qiin 
'daap laaj uaAas aq oi papuaiui 'uioi 



101 



'AlNnOO 00>iVN:.iHD 



XALOS ai.'KLSKWs 



'?^ 





CH E X A :; C C OU N T Y . 



Ill 



no boats on the ' 'anada shore, and the ! agreed on, and Gen. Scott snn-endered 
Hiil tia on the other side refused to gi^e i his whole force with the honors of war." 
them aid. Gen. Scott took his position | " The entire force thus s-urrended, of 
en the ground they then occupied, re-'' those who had been aciually fighting, 
solved to abide the shoe]:, and tJank of ; were l3'.* regulars, and 154 iniliiia, ina- 



turrender only when battle v\ as impot- 
tibie. lie mounted a log in front of 
liis much diminished band. "The cn- 
eniies' balis," taid he, " begin to thin 
cur ranks. His numbcro are ovtr- 
wheimiug. In a moment the shock 
must come, and there ia no retreat. 



king in all 29li. But to the intense 
chagrin and mortification of the com- 
mander, the iiumber of prisoners was 
soon sx^elled by several hundreds of 
militia, who had crossed to the < anada 
shore, and in the confusion of the mo- 
ment, had concealed themi^elve? under 



We are in the beginning of a nationals the rocks higher up the river, and were 
war. Hull's surrender must be redeem- ' 



ed. Let us then die, arms in hand. — ! 
Our country demands the sacrifice. — i 
The example will not be lost. The' 
blood of the tlain will make heroes of 
the living. Those who follow will 
avenge our fall and their country's 
wrongs. Who dare to stand ?" '' Alll" 
was the answering cry. 

" In the meanwhile the British, un- 



the action of the day Thus end- 
ed the battle of Queen.-town Heights." 
" The total loss of the Americans in 
the battle was estimated at ],00l) men. 
About 1(J0 were killed— 2(0 who had 
landed wuth Iviaj. Mullaney early in the 
day, were Ibrced by the current of the 
river on the enemies' shores, under their 
batteries, and were there captured. — 



der the command of Maj. Gen. Sheaffe, 1 1 Two hundred and ninety-thrte surren- 
manoeuvred with great caution and even jdered with Gen. Scott, and the residue 
hesitation, conscious of the vigorous re-, | were those who had landed, but were 
sistance already made, and determined :not in the battles." 
fiiUy to reconnoitre. They found it dif- ;! 
ficult to believe that so small a body of; 



Durinsr this hard-fou'>ht battle Col. 



, , ^ , , , Scott, like Aiarshall Lannes, at A^rern 

men vvas the whole force they had to^j^^j g^^j. ^^^^^^ ^^ mnlnplv l.im. 
contend with, and supposed It rather an L^j^, i^e was every where, and ap. 
outpost than an army. At length the!! - - - 



peared to many to be possessed of the 

powers of ubiquity. That the volunteers 

at Lewiston should have declined to emi' 

bark upon the rapid current, m crazy 

boats:, within point blank distance of a 

j Briti.Mi batterv, especially after witness- 

l|ini.' so frightful destruction of boats and 

!,mcn on the river, could not, even in the 

time of it, have created any considerable 

degree of surprise among reflecting 

men. 

We -come lastly to speak of the Che- 



hnal attack began. The Americans, 
fur a time, maintained their resolution, 
but finally began to give way to the 
power of overwhelming numbers. — 
When nearly surrounded, they let them- 
selves (by holding on to limbs and 
bushes,) down the precipice to the r ver. 
Resistance was now ended, and after 
a brief consultation, it \vas determined 
to send a flag to the enemy, with a prop- 
osition to capitulate. Several flags were 
despatched, bat the njessenge's never 

returned ; being shot down or captured jjnango troops after the surrender. The 
by the Indians. At length Gen. Scott, 'prisoners were taken to Niagara, at the 
accompanied by C^pts. Totten a> d Gib- 1 mouth of the river, and finally lodged 
son, fastened a white handkerchi.^f to |i further back in the country at Newark ; 
his sword, and thus equipped undertook jj the same place that the Americans af- 
the mission in person." j tcr \ aids burn-^d. The savaijes c; p' r- 

" The three American officers were i ed one of the officers of Col. Meade's 



Sheafie ; terms of capitulation M'ere they had torn hi? uniform from him, and 



IV. 



HISTORY OF 



Were about taliiugliis life, when he was 
released. 

LieuL. John Fiekls, a prisoner from 
Bioorae county, had once been in uie 
Britisii army. The Enghsh ciuim. 
"■ once a subject, always a subject,'' 
was a dangerous doctrine tor him, if he j 
should be recognized among tiie pns 
oners. The oliicer in charge of the 
pnsonei'S was the same comiuandani 
whom Fields had fornierly escape d 
from. He went through various dis- 
guises, assisted by the captives, until he 
was paroUed and had again reached our 
shores in safety ; where he must cer- 
tainly have breathed far easier, in.is- 
mucii as he had escaped the danger ol j 
being executed for taking up arms|^ 
against his prince and sovereign. 

Wnile Lieut. Chas. Randall was 
prisoner at Newark, a British officer in- 
quired of him what was done that so 
alarmed the Indians, when they were 
driven from the woods? The officer 
freely acknow^Iedged it was with great 
dittii uUy they could be brougiit up u 
■second time to the battle-tield ! Some 
■of the men who fought under Col. 
Scott, were also under Hull, and liber- 
ated on parole. These brave fellows, 
well aware of their fale, if taken, pre- 
ferred to attempt swanraing liie river, 
and most of them were drowned, or 
shot while crossing. One persevered 
in swimming, and when fairly in the 
stream was an easy target for a score 
of British musketeers, standing on the 
heights, overhanging the boiling cur- 
rent below. The bu'lets rained ilown 
on each side of him, but with no other 
etfe.t than to cause the waters to steam 
and hiss about his head and breast. — 
He escaped ! 

On the sixth day after the battle, the 
prisoners generally were discharged on 
parole. The Chenango men returned 
home soon after — both those who 
crossed the river and all Avho reniain'-d 
in Lewiston. 



We omitted to state that Doct. Wil- 
liam iViason, of Preston, ai-companied 
I he Chenango regiment, anil acted in 
;he capacity of Surgeon. 

We must preserve an anecdote of 
Col. Meade, who is now no more. — 
de behaved .m the 1 3th, in battle, with 
great coolness and determination ; his 
comrades bore honorable testimony on 
this point. In the retreat he had hang- 
ing by his side a valuable sword, which 
was tne loan of a friend. He also had 
another with him. In descending the 
rocks at Queenstown, on his retreat, 
lie tore it off and concealed it in the 
rocks to preserve it, and to keep it 
from going as a trophy to the enemy. 
At Hull's surreniler Gen. Cass broke 
his weapon, and at Queenstown Col. 
Aleade md his! The Colonel, while 
a prisoner, gave his fellow-suflerers an 
account of tlie transaction ; tliey had a 
hearty laugh at his prudence: the more 
that ne had by hiding the implement 
lost it, as by the terms of the capitula- 
tion he could have retained it. The 
volunteers, on their r^•turn home, circu- 
lated a report of the Colonel's mishap, 
and many pleasart jests were broken 
at his expense. At length some of his 
adversaries, more malevolent than wise, 
taunted the old soidier with disarming 
himself through fear ! They did not 
believe the charge, but knew it would 
annoy that pride which is predominant 
in the breast of every truly military 
man. 

The Colonel on one or two occa- 
sions gave :<iri/dng prcofs that if he 
was inguiened into huUng his sword, 
he yet had courage enough left to take 
suramaiy redress upon the hardiest as- 
sailant, who should dare accuse him of 
it. 

In 18 3 two companies went from 
v'lienango to Sackett's Harbor. Mr. 
Jolin Harris, of New Berlin, was pres- 
ent on thf; lines in the capacity of Lieu- 
Iciiant in 1813 and 18M. 





mm'i 



rr 




/ 

jf 

se- 

ace 

yof 



im, ^OTT €MNT(D)K.]E§'1|^' 






/ 



eHENAiXGO COUNTY 



IIH 



Abram Per Lee, of North Norwich, 
was severely wounded at the laiiding 
before Little York — so severely as to 
be left for some hours among the dead. 
He finally recovered from his desperate 
wound. 

Orin Caldwell, of Norwich, (who has 
been dead several years,) was badly j 
wounded at the battle of Niagara. — : 
The wound injured him for hfe, and I 
no doubt hastened his death. He drew ' 
a pension for some years. 

Peter Neer, a resident of Norwich, I 
was in the battles of Niagara, Lundy's' 
Lane, in the engagement at Sackett's ' 
Harbor, and other places where there t 
was hard fighting. j 

While ihe Chenango troops were j 
passing Black Rock, a woman in their ; 
presence picked up a spent cannon ball 
that struck near her while milking. — 
She picked it iip as it rolled along, | 
showed it to the troops, calling it a | 
" British bisccuit !" saying, while her | 
countenance glowed with animation. ! 
"Ah ha! Here is a British biscuit,'! 
which the English have just sent over. 
1 picked it up, and here it is," at the 
same time holding it high in the air, 
and assuming a self-satisfying attitude, 
much to then- amusement. I 

It has been contended that Col. 
Meade was as prominent on the field 
during the battle of Queenstown, as 
any of the militia officers, yet strange 
to say his meritorious services have 
never been mentioned by any of our 
military historians. A battle-field is 
something like an affray, no two wit- 
nesses ever agreeing precisely in rela-j 
ting the details of the fight. i! 

At the time Gea Van Rensselaer'! 
was brought back to the American i i 
lines wounded, he tried every persua- !! 
sion to cross the troops over, shouting i| 
at the top of his lungs, while his heart '\ 
Iteat with patriotic emotion, " Go on ! j 
> on, my brave boys, and fear no evil, !| 
■r.-r the day is ours !" J! 

Lieut. Chas. Randall has contended H 



that the men did not cross, for the want 
of boats. They went with alacrity to 
the water's edge, but could not cross. 
Mr. Randall bears honorable testimony 
to the exceeding personal bravery of 
Gen. Van Rensselaei, after he was se- 
verely wounded. We have not space 
to enlarge upon the military history of 
the country. 



BANKING IN CHENANGO. 

" Bauks, like most commercial insti- 
tutions, originated in Italy, where, in 
the infancy of European commerce, the 
Jews were wont to assemble in the mar- 
j ket-places of the principal towns, seated 
' on benches, ready to lend money ; the 
term 'bank,' therefore, is derived from 
th Italian word banco, signifying bench." 
B . ks are of three kinds ; they are of 
de! osite, of discount, of circulation. — 
In the United States, France and Eng- 
land, each institution performs all of 
■ the.se offices. 

I The first bank of which we have any 
' knowledge was the " Bank of Venice," 
established in the year 1171, or during 
the Crusades, for the purpose of render- 
ing assistance to exp ditions engaged in 
the holy wars. 'J his was, like the 

Sub Treasury, a bank of deposite, sim- 
ply. The government became responsi- 
ble for the safe return of the funds en- 
trusted to the care of the bank. The 
government was allowed to make use of 
the funds of the bank, giving vouchers, 
which corresponded with our modem 
treasury notes. These passed currently 
from hand to hand as representatives of 
coin. The Sub Treasury receives in 
deposit government mcneys only, while 
the bank of Venice received the funds 
of individuals, which were used by the 
government. This bank continued in 
existence until the dissolution of the 
Venetian republic, in 1708 — a period of 
six hundred and twenty-seven years. 

The " Bank of Amsterdam" was es- 
tablished in 1G09, and owed its origin 
to the clipped and worn currency, which, 
being of uncertain and fluctuating value, 
subjected the change to a corresponding 

(15) 



\H 



mSTORY OF 



fluctuation and uncertainty. The ob- 
ject of the institution was to give a cer- 
tain and unquestionable value to a bill 
on Amsterdam. For this purpose, the 
various coins were received in deposit at i 
the bank at a certain value. This is a 
bank merely of deposite and transfer, 
and still exists. 

The " Bank of Hamburgh" was es- 
tablished ten years after the last men- 
tioned ins itution, or in lG19, and is 
confined to deposit and transfer, and is 
yet in bemg. 

The "Bank of England," establish- 
ed in the reign of \\ illiam and Mary, 
in 1693, was founded to aid in carrying 
on a war against France. This institu- 
tion is yet in being. This bank has 
been England's right arm in all subse- 
quent wars. 

The " Bank of France" was organized 
during the reign of Napoleon, or in 
I80r3, with a capital of forty- five mil- 
lions francs. 

The first bank that was founded' in 
the county is the present " Bank of Che- 
nango." Ebenezer Wakely, .loseph S. 
Fenton, John Uandall, Uri Tracy and 
others, associated together under the 
name the bank now bears, and present- 
ed to the Legislature a petition praying 
to be •' incorporated as a company and 
body corporate." 

The original charter of the bank has 
nndergone three emendations, which we 
will notice after we have spoken of the 
first grant or charter that passed the 
Legislature on the 2lst of April. iSlS, 
creating the bank. Thf bank could not 
by the terms of its charter buy real es- 
tate, alihough it could hold it when ta- 
ken to secure debts. ' The capital stock 
of the bank not to exceed two hundred 
thousa.id dollars, and each share to be 
fifty dollars." Of the stock to be paid 
in before any notes or bills could issue, 
the law required twelve and a half per 
centum in specie. The Presi lent and 
Cashier to make oa'h of the amount 
paid in, and file the afTidavii of the fj.ct 
with the County Clerk. The bank to 
\^ under the control of thirteen direc- 



j tors, chosen annually, and to be residents 
of I he county. 

i Thompson Meade, Cliarles Knapp, 
I Robert Monell, tSamuel Ladd and Sam- 
uel Campbell w» re appointed Commis- 
sioners to open books to receive sub- 
; scriptions to the capital stock of the 
' Bank. The Commissioners also to su- 
perintend the first election of directors. 
There was a provision in the charter 
that when a demand for specie payment 
was made and not complied with, the 
bank was to cease, while the inability 
to pay continued, all banking operations 
mcluding discounts. If the bank did 
not, within sixty days after specie was 
demanded for its bills, pay it over, then 
its charter was forfeited. During the 
time of suspension, the bank was com- 
pelled to pay, on all notes presented, at 
the rate of fourteen per centum per an- 
num The corporation was proiiii)ited 
from taking for loans, not exceeding six- 
ty days, a larger rate of interest than 
six per centum, pet year. The bank 
was also prohibited from loaning money 
to brokers, to pay up notes with, under 
a penalty of two hundred dollars 

The bank was compelled to receive 
all deposites offered, and to pay on de- 
positee for one month at the rate of two 
per centum per annum ; for deposites of 
two months' standing, at the rate of 
three per centum ; thus increasing un- 
til the rate of interest reached as high 
as five per centum. The bank was 
compelled to make an annual report to 
the Legi-^lature of its standing. 

The charter of 1818 extended down 
to 18o4. In the year 829 it was ex- 
tended, under certain modifications, to 
Ij 1856. No person could be a director 
i under the amended act, unless he owned 
five hundred dollars of stock. It was 
forbidden the corporation to take an hy- 
pothecation of its own stock, as security 
for loans or discounts. The amended 
i charter was subject to the general pow- 
il er reserved to the Legislature, to alter, 
ji modify or repeal the act extending the 
I charter. 

I In the year 1S30 the charter under- 
. went another alteration, and in the vear 



ti1'SNAN#0 COeiNtT. 



U-* 



^1832 still another. The act of 1S32 re" 
'quired the bank to discontinue business 
and close, if it should refuse to pay spe- 
cie for ils notes, until it again resumed 
its redr mpiions. TJirre was also allow- 
ed the bank, in case of non-payment of 
its notes, an appeal to the Vice Chan- 
cellor of this circuit for an order to al- 
low it to procetd with business, when 
there was a suspension of specie pay- 
ments, for good cause shown. 

On the 2d of April, lS2y, an act pass- 
ed the Legislature to create a fund for 
the benefit of the creditors of certain 
moneyed corporations, and lor other 
purposes. This enactment is more fa- 
miliarly known as the "Safety Fund" 
law. The Chenango Bank came un- 
der the purview of this law, v. hich was 
the first that had place'! the o|icrations 
of ihesi? institutions upon any thing like 
a firm basis. Three inspectors of banks 
were to be appointed; one by the Gov- 
ernor and Senate ; the banking institu- 
tions, under certain limitiitions, to ap- 
point the other two. The Commission- 
ers were invested with very ample pow- 
ers, and authority over the banks. — 
They became an inquisitorial body, lia- 
ble to call at any time upon the officers 
of the banks for statements exhibiting 
the financial condition of each institu- 
tion 

The first Commissioner ivho visited 
the Bank of Chenango, vvas. we believe. 
Commissionr'r Stehbins. He at once 
applied to Chancerv for an injunction 
to close the bank. The charges alleged 
against the bank were, among other 
irregularities, that its capital stock had 
not been paid in, that the stock owners 
had simply deposit' d their private notes 
and issued bills upon them, all the 
v.'hile treating them as so much cash 
paid in. 

The result was that when the pay- 
ments for stock were demanded, they 
were not forthcoming, and the bank was 
closed. The panic among bill-holders, 
as well as depositors was intense. Ma- 
ny merchants and mechanics for some 
time wore faces drawn out much beyond 
their usual leng'h. Relief at jppgth' 



' came through the assistance of capital* 
! ists. This class of men came forward, 
' paid up the stock notes, took the stock, 
tilled tiie vaults with specie, and finally 
' placed this bank on that solid basis 
j which it rests upon to this day. Th« 
I bank, under th^ former regime, ha4 
some interesting litigations, arising ia 
I some cases out of personal feuds. 
I We will notice briefly but one cas*, 
j which was determined in the Ji^uprem* 
I Court. John F. Hubbaid, on the -25th 
I of June, ]S2o, presented a thousand doi» 
lars in bank' notes at the counter of thia 
institution, and called for their redemp* 
lion in specie. It vvas not paid on thai 
;day, though he was in attendance to re» 
jceive it. When he entered the bank 
' the teller was counting out one thousand 
j dollars in coin for a Mr. Meade, which 
occupied the whole of banking hours 
during that day. The teller was pay- 
ing Mr. Meade in very small coin, that 
j consumed a very long time in ascertain* 
|ing. The Cashier refused toassist, al- 
though Mr. Hubbard ottered to take a 
box of specie at the bank mark. Thi« 
was refused also. 

'J'he bank in defence, urged and of- 
, fered to prove on the trial that the plain- 
tiff and others had raised fount en thou- 



nd dollar 



fund to draw specie 



from the bank. Judge Nelson rejected 
this evidence. It was then proved by 
the bank that " a Mr. Noyes" had kept 



up 



a run lor severa 



1 da- 



for small 



Oa one occasion he came into 



sand dollirs, and drew out in specie on* 
thousand. On the same day xMr. Mead« 
offered to deposit three thousand dollar*, 
which was declined by the bank, and 
he then drew a thousand dollars in spe- 
cie. The n'-xt day Mr. Meade, the el- 
der, demanded specie for one thousand 
I dollars, which the teller was counting 
! whi'U Mr. Hubbard presented his mo- 
n"V. The amount presented in all 
about the same time by Messrs. Noyes, 
.Meade, Hubbard and Clarli was sixteen 
thousand dollars, besides a large amount 
presented by Mr. Clapp. 
I'pon tho above facts tb© court laid 



llp 



HISTORY OF 



down some general rules adverse to the |l 
bank, which are now the prevailing j 
law in this State. " Unreasonable de- 
lay," said the court, " amounts to a re- 
fusal of payment." Another position — 
" a bank cannot, at its option, pay out 
in small pieces when it has large on 
hand, thus creating delay ; and it should 
keep money ready counted out, or ser- 
vants sufficient to count it out Avithin a 
reasonable time. It' there be unreason- 
able delay, it amounts to a refusal of 
payment." 

After the bank was re-organized, it 
moved on harmoniously under the new 
administration, until it became one of 
the most profitable in the State, perhaps 
the most so. Its customers are not, as 
in many of the large commercial towns, 
extra hai^ardous operators. The com- 
munity have the most unlimited confi- 
dence in the soundness of the institu- 
tion ; so much so, that in times of pan- 
ic few of the farmers in the county draw 
out from their money-chests the notes of 
the bank to obtain coin, its charter 
expires in almost five years. The ques- 
tion then arises what institution will 
take its place. No more bank charters, 
under the safety fund system, are grant- 
ed. Our own opinion is that the stock- 
holders will at once organize and con- 
tinue under the general banking law, 
without any interruption of business. 

The "Bank of Chenango" is the on- 
ly moneyed institution in the county, or 
that has at- any lime existed here, except 
Q new bank recently set in operation, 
under the general banking law, in Bain- 
bridge. The capital of the " Bank of 
Chenango" has never exceeded $120,- 
000, notwithstanding the limit in the 
act of incorporation amounted to nearly 
twice this amount. We believe no 
county in the State, of the population, 
Wealth and commercial enterprise of 
this, employs so little banking capital. 
The want of greater moneyed facilities 
has often been experienced by our whole- 
sale produce dealers, and frequent prop- 
ositions for one or more new banks have 
been made by citizens, but no organized 
action has yet taken place. That wc 



require greater banking capital, all ad- 
mit ; that bank stock investments in 
southern New York generally have been 
safe and better paying than any other, 
we must equally admit. Banks and 
governments are rich in proportion as 
the people upon whom ihey depend are 
wealthy. It is individual prosperity that 
constitutes wealth in the aggregate.- — 
In no county within the State is money 
more equally distributed than in this — 
Ther^ are few overgrown families, and 
as few paupers. 

We call public attention to the deficit 
of bank capital in the county, because 
we believe for the want of it, much 
manufacturing and tax-paying capital is 
kept away. 

VVlien new settlements in the west 
are undertaken, the population resort at 
once to the establishment of b.ibking 
facilities; considering these as indispen- 
sable to the general welfare as schools 
and meeting houses. 

The first board of directors of the 
'' Bank of Chenango" were as follows : 
Charles Knapp, John Noyes, Sen., 
Tilly Lynde, Cyrus Strong, 

Henry Mitchell, Eobert Monell, 
.James Birdsall, Jonathan Johnson, 
Joseph S. Fenton, David G. Bright, 
Mark Steere, Nathan Chamberlin, 

Joshua Pratt, Jr. 

Chosen in the year 1S18. 
The first President of the Bank was 
Charles Knapp. Thomas Milner suc- 
ceeded Mr. Knapp, and Ira Wilcox, 
chosen to fill the place of Mr. Milner, 
in the year 1S30, Mr. W. still retains 
the office. 

Matthew Talcott, of Utica, a brother 
of the late Samuel A. Talcott, late At- 
torney General of the State, was the 
first Cashier of the Bank. His success- 
or was Joseph S. Fenton, who gave 
place to James Birdsall ; and he, in the 
year 1834, surrendered up his trust to 
Walter M. Conkey, who has continued 
to supply the station to the present time. 
Giles'Chitlenden was the first Teller 
of the Bank. George Field, a lad be- 
tween seventeen and eighteen years of 
age, Avas the next Teller. He ^ontinu- 



CHENANGO COUNTY 



117 



ed in the bank about two years. David '| oilier buildings, houseliold furniture, 
ts. Perry succeeded him. In lb26 \V al- i>merchandize and other property, agamst 
ter M. Conkey came into the bank as ; loss or damage by hre. 
Teller, and William B. Pellet was ap- J The above named individuals were 
pointed by the directors to his station of;' by the terms of the act tire rirst directors 
Teller and Book Keeper in li;5ii7. Hell of the corporation, A majority of the 
yet continues, and by his energy has j members of the corporation had the pow- 
superseded the necessity of a second or j er of determining the place in the coun- 
assistant clerk. He has filled his pres-ijty where the companv snouid transact 
ent situation in the bank for the space ! its business. The dneclors were em- 



of twenty-three years. t 

Net many \ears since the directors 
were summoned very often to superm- 
tend the minute afiairs of the bank. — I 
Under the present management they 
find, when they meet, the counsels of 
the Cashier, Teller and President am- 1 
pie for every emergency. 

When the charier was granted, in 
1813, the stockholders were authorized; 
to raise their capital to two hundred 
thousand dollars. They fixed it at one 
hundred thousand. When the safet}'* 
fund law was passed they were required 
to name anew the amount, and to be 
limited by it accordingly. It was then 
put at one hundred and tweniy thousand \ 
dollars, and so remains. This small 
capital has been so judiciously employ- 
ed that in September, 1849, there was 
a surplus of nett earnings ready to be 
divided among stockholders, amouniiug 
to forty-nine thousand dollars. And 
this, exclusive of the handsome divi- 
dends distributed annually among the 
stock owners. 

MUTUAL INSURANCE CO. 
On the 3d day of May, 1836, the Le- 
gislature enacted that Abel Chandler, 
John Clapp, Charles York, Allen Meade, 
George L. Rider, Smith M. Purdy, .John 
Noyes, Augustus C. Welch, Austin 
Hyde, Wells Wait, John Latham, John 
C. Clark, Henry De Forest, Ciiarles 
Squires, Russel Case, Alexander Holmes, 
Isaac Stokes, Silas Keade, Jr., and ail 
other persons who might thereafter asso- 
ciate with them, be a corporation by the 
name of the 

"Chenango Mutqal Insurance Co." 
for the purpose of insuring their respect- 
ive dwelling houses, stores, shops and 



powered to determine the rates of msu- 
rance, the sum to be insured, and the 
sum to be deposited lor any insurance. 
Another provision of the law, and one 
authorizmg the collection of moneys 
Irom the members, reads thus : 

" Every person who shall become a 
member of said corporation by efi'ecting 
insurance therein, shall, before he re- 
ceives his policy, deposit his promissory 
note for such a sum of money as shaii 
be determined by the directors ; a part, 
not exceeding five per cent, of said note 
shall be immediately paid; and the re- 
mainder of said deposit note shall be 
payable, in part or the whole, at anv^ 
time when the directors shall deem the 
same requisite for the payment of losses 
by fire, and such incidental expenses as 
shall be necessary for transacting the 
business of said company ; and at the 
expiration of the term of insurance, the 
said note, or such part of the same as 
shall remain unpaid, after deducting all 
losses and expenses occurring during 
said term, shall be relinquished and 
given up to the maker tiiereoi." 

By another provision of the law crea- 
ting the corporation, if any member of 
the company refused to pay his assess- 
ment, the premium note might be sued, 
and the face of it, with costs, cullected. 
The amount collected on the note, to 
remain in the hands of the company to 
answer losses occurring Avhile the policy 
of the defaulter was in force ; after that 
the overplus to be paid back. 

Beyond the amount of the premium 
note, the members of the company were 
liable, in certain contingencies, to be 
assessed ; these were in case the losses 
by fire exceeded the amount of all the 
i premium notes deposited by members. 



us 



HISTORY OF 



The company wa,s not to issue any poli- 
cy of iiJ6urauce until application should 
ha made lor risks amounting to Iil'cy 
thousand dollars at least. Ttie chariur 
of the company was to extend to ivvcnty 
years. 

The foregoing are a few of the lead- 
ing features of the lavv under which the 
Insurance company went into operatioii 
on the oth of tseplernber, 1S36. 

In January, l5ii, the company was 
in a prosperous condition, as appears 
Irom the Jollowing abstract of their af- 
fairs : In this year it had issued poli- 
cies, throughout the middle and eastern 
states, to the amount of three millions 
six hundred and eignty-one thousand 



I farmers, merchants and mechanics out 
of all joint stock companies. 

" M''st inonc) sell' me!*, as snares, they bate, 
Aii'l bie liOl at j)iojc-ctoi's ba;i." 

\\ e might descend much more into 
dela is, but cannot do so without giving 
personal otience, which we have studi- 
ously avoided so (ar in the his'.ory. — 
The company has ceased to exist for 
further good. Ere many years its vir- 
tues and its errors will Ije buried in the 
vast depository of things that were. 
NOTE. 

In publishing the subdivision of the 
county into towns at pages 4 and 5, the 
list was talven from the second edition 



five hundred and thirty-three dollars. ,1 ^^ ^^^^ liev.^^^d Statutes, volume 3, com- 
Ihe amount ol premium notes m !| ^^^^^j^^, ^^j^^.^ ^i^^ s^p^,^^,^^. ^^^^-^^^ ^^ 



force on the 1st of January, 1841, was j 
three hundri'd eleven thousand three { 
hundred and thirty-eigiit dollars. " The jl 
amount collected on premium notes from jj 
the time of its establishment m iS'<iii I 
down to 1S41, was twenty-six thousand 
one hundred and sixty-three dollars. 

The amount paid for losses up to Jan- 
uary, IS41, footed at fifteen thousand 
nine hundred and eighteen dollars. — 
The amount clainitd was twent3'-one 
thousand five hundred and seventeen 
dollars. The tu'o last mentioned sums 
put together arnouiit to thirty-seven thou- 
sand four hundred and thirty-five dol- 
lars. During this year the company col- 
lected ten per centum on all premium 
notes in force on the 1st of tJeptember, 
1S40. 

Within the next five years the affairs 
of the company became apparently (tho' j 
not really,) involved through misman-l 
agement ; insomuch that Mr. Attornevl 
General Van Curen enjoined it. A re- j 
ceiver was ordered to put its affairs into | 
liquidation; and Austin Hyde, recently i 
deceased, was selected for this duty. — j 
tSince then but little has been known of |i 
its standing. Those who were so unfor- 
tunate as to be members of this corpora- 
tion, have had to pay freely, and are 
still paying ; but we trust they are near- 
ly through. The unfortunate issue of 
iiisvj:."_'?co in this county ha» alarmed 



on comparing the list with the various 
laws, numerous errors were found. We 
therefore reprint the list alter personal 
examination. 

Bain bridge was organized in 1791 
under the name of Jericho, 'ihe first 
town meeting was held at the house of 
William Guthrie. 

Columbus was taken from Brookfield 
in ISOo. The first town meeting was 
held at the house of Jonathan Brovvnell. 

Coventry was taken from Greene in 
1S06.. The first town meeting was held 
at the school house near Burrage Miles'. 

Guilford was taken from Oxford in 
1814 The first town meeting was held 
at the house of Jehiel Parsons. 

German was taken from De lluvter 
in ISOtJ. 

Greene was taken from Union and 
Jericho in 179S. The first town meet- 
ing was held at the house of Conrad 
Sharp. 

Lincklasn was taken from German in 
1S23 The first town meeting was held 
at the dwelling of .Abel Fairchild. 

McDonough was taken fri.m Preston 
in IS 1(5. The first town meeting was 
held at the dwelling of Sylvanus Aioor. 

New Berlin was taken from Norwich 
in 1807. The first town meeting was 
held at the house of Jeremy Goodrich. 

Norwich was taken from Jericho and 
Union in 179.3. T'"2 first town maeting 




^-^y 



^gra-jed'by J C BTiJtee 






CHS^'ANGO GOUIS'TY. 



119 



was held at the house ^" Capt. John 
Harris. 

North Norwich was taken from Nor- 
wich in 1649. The first town meeting 
was held at Tower's tavern. 

Otselic was taken from German in 
1817. The first town meetinaf was held 
at the dwelling of Ebenezer Hill. j 

Oxford was taken from Union and 
Jericho in 1793. The first town meet 
ing was held at the house of Benjamin 
Hovey. 

Pharsalia was taken from Norwich in 

1506. The first town meeting was held 
at the house of Sanford Morton. 

Pi'cher was taken from German and 
Lincklffin in 1827. The first town 
meeting was held at the house of Abel 
Chandler, 

Plymouth was taken from Norwifch 
in 1806. The firs', town meeting was 
held at the house of W^alter Beman. 

Preston was taken from Norwich in 

1507. The first town meeting was held 
at the house of William Palmer. 

Sherburne was taken from Paris in 
179.5. The first town meeting was held 
at th.e house of Timothy Hatch. 

Smithville was taken from Greece in ■ 
1809. The first town meeting was held 
at a school house near .Joseph Agard's. 

Smvrtia was taken from Sherburne 
in 1809. The first town meeting was 
held at ihn house of William Ladd. 



CONCLUSION. 

We now take leave o^ the patrons of 
the County iiistory. That it is an im- 
perfect prod Ui-t ion arises from several 
causes aside from the limited ability of 
the writer. The work, as originally de- | 
signed, was to be published only in a 
series of newspaper articles. As we ad- 
vanced, the Messrs. Lawyers, printers, 
and Messrs. Thompson & Pratt, pub- 
lishers, requested the privilege of col- 
lecting what might be written into 
pamphlet form in order to preserve it 
for future use and reference. It was 
thought, also, after a lapse of time, that 



some individual might be found who 
would Avrite a full and accural t- narra- 
tive of Chenango, and the present at- 
tempt would assi-t him. The reader 
will bear in mind that we publish aa 
information was obtained, without refer- 
ence to an orderly arrangement. The 
statistics are copied from census returns. 
At one time it was contemplated to write 
out a full description of the early inhab- 
itants of each town ; but this was aban- 
doned with regret. It was abandoned 
because the writer had not the re(iuisite 
leisure to visit all the towns and remain 
in each for space sufficient to coll-'ct the 
necessary information. This history is 
presented to the citizens of Chenango 
county as an offering from a native, ma- 
ny years absent, but who, entertaining 
very warm good wishes for the place of- 
his birth, desired to see a printed sketch 
of that locality. The limited number of 
copies now printed in no way compen- 
sates for the time, labor and anxiety in- 
cident to a production of this kind. The 
writer prefers that the public should 
consider this as an attempt towards a 
history of the county, rather than as the 
history itself. We regret that we were 
unable to obtain accurate census returns 
for 18-30; but so it is, and the newspa- 
pers will hereafter supply this omission. 
Soon after the history was undertaken 
the newspaper in which it appeared 
was removed to Bainbridge, a distance 
of twenty miles from the residence of 
tile writer. This unfortunate circum- 
stance prevented any personal correc- 
tion of proof-sheets, and hence many ty- 
pographical errors occurred ; but we 
trust they are not of a nature to mislead 
the reader. Some will be corrected in 
the errata. It was contemplated giving 
the political and church history of the 
county, and also publishing reminis- 
cences of eminent men ; but our limited 
space precluded even this. We trust, 
finally, that sufficient patronage will be 
extended to the work to repay the pub- 
lishers and printers lor their praisewor- 
thy efforts to inform and amuse the pub- 
lic at considerable private expenditure- 



E R II ATA. 



L'vn of towns— corrected page. 
At piige 16, near the bottom of the 
second colua.n, liiere was an error fiom 
ihe transposition of type in making up 
the^torm. The sentence should read: 
"Is very destructive to them, in 
the village of Oxford, in past years, as 
nnprovenients at various times advant- ! 
ed, in the neigiiborhood of Fort Hill 
many Indian relics were found, such as 
SLone hatchets, flint arrow points, stone 
chisels, &c." ^ 

At page 15 "To pro^Hliate thei'r 
names,''^ read for names " manes' 

At page 17 it is said the troops of 
.Gen «uUivan did not cross the coun- 
ty. They did pass on the Susquehati- 
nah tarough Bainbridge. 

A,t page 31 it is said that Chenango 
county ''once embraced the twenty 
townships." One year before the erec- 
tion of the county', part of the twenti- 
eth town (SangersficlJ,) was set off to 
JBridgewater. 

At page 52, after the words " resi- 
dence of," insert Asahel in place of 
" Stephen." ^ 

At page 53, after the words " public 



1851, 



office was completed in October 
at a cost of $.3,000. 

At page 63, after the words '• lucra- 
t!'- practice," insert— Mr. Garvin was 
elected District Attorney of Oneida 
county in 1850. 

At page 63— bottom, read— The 
oath was much the same as that now 
required of foreigners, as a pre-requisite 
of citizenship. 

At page 64 strike out the first two 
lines at the top. 

At page 71, after the word " eigh- 
een " read 74*^. 

At page 72, after the word " engag- 
ed," tor " 3,464," read 3,644. 

After the word " Pharsalia " for 
" 12," read 11. 

After the word " Plymouth," for 
"91," read 19. 



.\ fter the Vv^ord 
cad 12,816. 



was. 



for "12,81," 



840," 



monuments,^' insert— A new clerk' 



After the word "but," .or 
•ad 340. 

After the figures "1800," for " 5,- 
> i6," read 15,666. 

Wherever the word "gramraer" oc- 
curs read grammar. 



AD D E IDA. 

The Author returns his sincere acknowledgements to Messrs. John Tracy and 
£. B. McCall, of Oxford; to Messrs. Henry Bennett, ,Iohn Harris, Thomas 
Brown and Noah Mathewson, of New Berlin ; to Messrs. Benjamin F. Rex- 
ford, .loseph Skinner, Charles Randall, Truman Enos, William Thor -s, and 
to the widow of Hiiscal Kansford, deceased, of Norwich, and to many other in- 
habitants of Chenango, for valuable information furnished him during the pro- 
«Tess of the history. Without this co-operalion on the part of individuals, much 
interesting information appertaining to the County, could not have been given 
to the Public. 



..,■^■1 



^iU 



t 






LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



014 113 028 6 • 



